EZEJI, KAMSIYOCHUKWU AMAKA (2025) INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN RUSSIAN UKRAINE WAR 2014-2025. Other thesis, GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY, ENUGU.
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Abstract
International law is a broad framework that governs the legal relations between sovereign states, encompassing areas such as diplomacy, trade, and human rights. Within this broader system, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) specifically regulates conduct during armed conflict, aiming to protect civilians and limit the means and methods of warfare. This study focuses on the implementation of International Humanitarian Law in the Russia–Ukraine war, examining both adherence and violations by the warring parties. The study was guided by two specific objectives: first, to examine the extent to which Russia and Ukraine adhered to the principles of International Humanitarian Law during the war; and second, to determine how the nature of political leadership contributed to the failure to implement IHL in the conflict. The Realist Theory of International Relationsserved as the theoretical framework, offering insight into how national interest, state sovereignty, and power dynamics often override legal norms in international conflict. Using a qualitative research design and relying on ex-post facto methodology, the study analyzed data from secondary sources including reports from the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and government and media publications. The analysis, based on qualitative content analysis, revealed that both Russian and Ukrainian forces have been implicated in violations of IHL, including the targeting of civilian infrastructure, use of banned weapons such as cluster munitions, and mistreatment of prisoners of war. Despite extensive documentation, enforcement mechanisms remain weak, with limited success from institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has initiated investigations but achieved few timely prosecutions. The study concludes that adherence to IHL during the Russia–Ukraine conflict has been largely shaped by strategic interests and political leadership, rather than by consistent legal obligation. It recommends stronger international monitoring, enhanced support for the ICC, and the integration of IHL training into national leadership structures to improve compliance and accountability in future conflicts.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Other) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JA Political science (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Management and Social Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Uchenna Eneogwe |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2026 15:22 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2026 15:22 |
| URI: | http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5867 |
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