WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY COMMITTED BY RUSSIAN SOLDIERS IN UKRAINE

CAN UKRAINIAN VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVER FIND JUSTICE?

Abstract

The war in Ukraine started on the 24^th of February 2022. This war has led to the loss of many lives from both sides: the Russian soldiers and Ukrainian citizens. Both sides have also wasted resources.  There appears to be no end in sight yet, though serious moves are being made towards negotiating and reaching an agreement on cease fire. With the level of losses on both sides especially the loss of lives on the Ukrainian side, questions are already being asked if the victims of war crimes in Ukraine can ever get justice. This article analyzed the possibility of the Ukrainian citizens ever getting justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity orchestrated against them by the Russian soldiers. The analysis centred on the possibility of accessing justice before the institutions empowered to deliver justice for crimes committed against the Ukrainian people: Ukrainian National Courts, the International Criminal Court and or any international criminal tribunal that may be set up by the United Nations Security Council. The research adopted the doctrinal methodology which analyzed primary and secondary sources of materials. The research discussed the history of the war, the possibility of trial at the ICC, the possibility of trial before any tribunal, and the recommendation and conclusion. The article recommends the reform of the United Nations Security Council and the strengthening of the International Criminal Court.