030212 KU Legal Responses to the Russian War of Aggression against Ukraine (2025S)

The main objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive examination of legal responses to Russia’s war against Ukraine, from the onset of hybrid warfare in 2014 to the full-scale invasion in 2022, integrating both international and domestic dimensions.

These responses have taken various forms, including legal assessments documenting events under international law, the establishment of investigative and reporting mechanisms, the collection and preservation of evidence, the initiation and continuation of judicial proceedings, and efforts to ensure accountability and reparations.

The course focuses on judicial proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), as well as investigations initiated by the International Criminal Court (ICC). These cases address genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorist financing, racial discrimination, and severe human rights violations. Additionally, the course explores initiatives to establish a special ad hoc tribunal to prosecute Russia’s leadership for the crime of aggression and the creation of a compensation mechanism to ensure full reparation.

Domestically, Ukraine has introduced martial law and implemented a wartime legal framework while striving to uphold the rule of law amid the ongoing disruptions of war. Ukrainian courts are handling unprecedented cases, including war crimes prosecutions, sanctions enforcement, and compensation claims.

By critically analyzing and discussing these legal responses, students will deepen their understanding of both the potential and limitations of law in addressing war-related challenges. Led by a Ukrainian expert with firsthand insights, the course offers a holistic and in-depth perspective on the evolving legal landscape of the war in Ukraine.