Presentation of the Voluntary Report on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
In Kyiv, the official presentation of the Voluntary Report on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine took place with the support of the Ukrainian Red Cross. This is a historic event, as although at least 13 countries have already published similar documents, this is the first time in global practice that the Voluntary Report on IHL has been prepared and presented by the Ministry of Defence of a country engaged in full-scale war.
The event, which took place on 13 February 2025, brought together representatives from government agencies, leading human rights organisations, Ukraine’s international partners, and delegates from foreign Red Cross societies. The main topic was the presentation of the IHL report, which the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine prepared voluntarily to demonstrate that, even in times of war, Ukraine remains a state governed by the rule of law.
Inna Zavorotko, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice and Deputy Head of the International Law Division of the Legal Support Department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, outlined several reasons why the presentation of the Voluntary Report is so important:
- Ukraine is once again demonstrating that compliance with IHL is a matter of human values, distinguishing us from the enemy.
- Adherence to international agreements enhances the country’s image on the global stage as a state governed by the rule of law, which is crucial for receiving international military assistance.
- Thanks to international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, the possibility of exchanging prisoners of war exists. Although the mechanism does not always function perfectly, Ukraine continues to implement it.
- By assuming international obligations to implement international humanitarian law at the national level, Ukraine openly demonstrates to the world that it is fulfilling its commitments.
- Compliance with international humanitarian law is a matter of responsibility. Violations of its norms should not go unpunished.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Oleksii Kaminetskyi, Acting Director of the Department of Legal Support of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, said:
“The publication of the Voluntary Report and its inclusion of numerous specific activities in the field of IHL would not have been possible without the support of civil society and the international organisations present at today’s event. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the entire team of the Ukrainian Red Cross not only for co-organising today’s event but also for your continued support and effective cooperation, including in the publication and advocacy of the Ministry of Defence’s Voluntary Report on IHL.”
Meanwhile, Maksym Zatserkovnyi, Advisor to the Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross on Government Relations, emphasised:
“The voluntary report was created at the initiative of the state, particularly the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross, which was involved in all stages of its preparation, processing, and publication. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate to the international community that Ukraine, even in times of war, adheres to humanitarian standards. We are ready to continue providing comprehensive support to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine in fulfilling its statutory duties to disseminate knowledge on IHL. We thank our partners within the International Movement, particularly the British Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Swedish Red Cross, French Red Cross, and the governments of these countries for their strategic partnership.”
It should be noted that the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law — humanity, proportionality, military necessity, and the distinction between civilians and combatants — play a key role in preserving humanity in times of war. They remind us that even in armed conflict, there must be boundaries to protect those not involved in hostilities and maintain moral order amidst the chaos of war. The presentation of the Voluntary Report on IHL by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine demonstrates to the world the high moral and spiritual values of the Ukrainian people.
