The legality of Russia's occupation of the crimean Peninsula

Abstract EN

The Russian occupation of Crimea raises a fundamental question on its legality under international law.

This article addresses the question, arguing that Russia's use of armed force against Ukraine, which resulted in occupying Crimea, is illegal according to the international law rules.

In this regard, while the Kremlin contends the legality of the use of armed force against Ukraine, upon various grounds, notably protecting minorities of Russian ethnicity residing in the peninsula, Ukraine argues that the military intervention violated its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This article applies the relevant international law rules of the use of armed force by states that emerged from the United Nations (UN) Charter and subsequent practice of the UN principal organs on the conflict parties' arguments, demonstrating and concluding that Russia has failed to meet the humanitarian intervention doctrine requirements.