On February 24, 2022, President Vladimir Putin of Russia declared a "special military operation" aimed at "demilitarizing and denationalizing" Ukraine, exacerbating longstanding tensions between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, culminating in an unprecedented international armed conflict in modern European history since the Cold War. The agression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has led to a significant deterioration of the human rights situation within Ukraine in particular with the perceived massive violations to the right to life, physical and sexual integrity and the prohibition of torture. Consequently, numerous individuals have fled their homes to neighbouring countries, the social, health and education systems in Ukraine have been severely affected, posing threats to food and water security, while also causing enduring environmental harm.
This Master's thesis initiates with a comprehensive examination of the historical context surrounding the relationship between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Subsequently, it delves into an analysis of legal resources, academic and expert literature, as well as reports from both governmental and non-governmental organizations, alongside media coverage. This thesis aims to examine the human rights violations attributable to the Russian Federation throughout the armed conflict in Ukraine, commencing from February 24, 2022, onwards. Furthermore, it situates the most egregious of these violations within the framework of the international crime of crimes against humanity, as delineated by international criminal law.
The hypothesis of this master thesis is:
»During the period of armed conflict from 24 February 2022 to March 2024, the Russian Federation violated the rules of international human rights law, and some of the violations can also be defined as crimes against humanity.«
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