The violation of the Geneva Convention 1949 consequences: A humanitarian tragedy

We publish another material from our volunteer Debrais Elliot about the violation of International Humanitarian Law and Geneva Conventions by russian military forces after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly violated international conventions, which are designed to protect sensitive sites that pose risks to nearby populations. Over the decades, the Geneva Convention has evolved to adapt to technological and human development, designating nuclear power plants as inviolable sanctuaries. The consequences of an attack on a nuclear reactor would be unprecedented for both Ukrainian and European populations. Since Ukraine is geographically part of Europe, a nuclear risk on its territory equates to an attack on the children, women, and men across Europe.

The first paragraph of Article 56 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Convention explicitly states: “[…] nuclear electrical generating stations shall not be made the object of attack, even where these objects are military objectives […]” (Art. 56, §1, AP I, 1949). This article falls under the Protection of works and installations containing dangerous forces and emphasizes the severe consequences of such attacks.

The reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, already a hazard due to numerous safety failings under the USSR, was further endangered when the Russian military launched a Shahed drone attack on its protective sarcophagus. This reckless action had significant consequences: between Thursday, February 13, and Friday, February 14, 2025, the highly explosive warhead caused a fire that breached the new protection around Reactor No. 4—the same reactor responsible for the 1986 disaster.

An anonymous employee at the site told Le Monde that Ukraine’s defensive strategy prevented worse outcomes: “It is fortunate that we had not begun dismantling the sarcophagus; otherwise, the radiation consequences would have been far worse” (M. Grynszpan & F. Vincent, Le Monde, February 15, 2025). This incident underscores the dehumanization exhibited by the Russian military, which appears willing to endanger its Belarusian allies and innocent Ukrainian and European populations alike. While the Kremlin’s irrationality is well-documented, this act demonstrates an unprecedented level of recklessness.

In all militaries worldwide, actions require orders from a chain of command. Thus, Russia’s “imperial” army (as described by E. Macron on March 6th, 2025) knowingly decided to carry out this attack. The violation of Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Convention could have spillover effects on ecology, agriculture, and global security. For instance, during the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, France detected widespread iodine-131 contamination—a reminder of how such events transcend borders and pose universal risks.

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