Legal Perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine War International and Polish Approaches

Introduction

Part I: International Law Aspects

1. United Nations Confronted with Russia’s Aggression on Ukraine in 2022

Michał Balcerzak

2. Neutrality, Non-belligerency, Belligerency: The Status of States Assisting Ukraine in the International Armed Conflict Between Ukraine and Russia

Agata Kleczkowska

3. International and European Refugee Law and the Exodus of Ukrainians After 24th February 2022

Anna Magdalena Kosińska and Dariusz Zagrodzki

4. Legal Analysis of the Modalities for Establishing the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and its Impact on the Effectiveness of Proceedings

Tomasz Lachowski

5. Register of Damage for Ukraine: First Step Towards an International Compensation Mechanism for Victims of Russian Aggression

Aleksandra Mężykowska

6. Russia’s Aggression and the International Court of Justice: The Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation)

Karolina Słotwińska

7. The Stolen Children: Russia’s Policy Towards Ukrainian Minors Transferred after the Outbreak of War – an International Law Perspective

Anastasiia Vorobiova

Part II: Polish  Law Aspects

8. The Polish Military Assistance to Ukraine: The Constitutional Aspects

Agnieszka Bień-Kacała and Michał Mistygacz

9. Humanitarian Assistance for Ukrainian Citizens in the Aftermath of Russian Aggression and the Polish Public Finance Law

Wojciech Bożek

10. Aggravated Criminal Responsibility in Polish Criminal Law for Selected Crimes Committed During the Armed Conflict in Ukraine

Magdalena Kowalewska-Łukuć and Łukasz Pohl

11. Ensuring the Right to Education for Ukrainian Children in Poland Following the Russian Aggression in Ukraine

Anna Młynarska-Sobaczewska

12. The Role of Local Government in Providing Humanitarian Aid to Citizens of Ukraine Following Russia’s Aggression in 2022

Małgorzata Ofiarska

13. Legal Aspects of the Humanitarian Assistance System for Ukrainian Citizens in Poland in the Aftermath of Russian Aggression

Piotr Polak

14. Legal Determinants of Crisis Management in Poland  in the Context of Russian Aggression in Ukraine

Dominika Skoczylas

15. Ensuring the Rights to Social Security for Ukrainian Citizens in Poland: the Implications of the Law of 12 March 2022

Joanna Szyjewska-Bagińska

16. The Legal Status of Ukrainians Finding Refuge on the Territory of Poland After the Russian Aggression in 2022

Przemysław Zdyb

Biography

Michał Balcerzak, Dr. hab. iur., is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Security Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, and the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Szczecin. He served as a judge ad hoc at the European Court of Human Rights (2018–2022). Since 2022 he has been a member, vice-chair, and chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. His research interests include international protection of human rights, litigation at international courts and tribunals, and the law of international organizations.

Ewelina Cała-Wacinkiewicz, Dr. hab. iur., is Dean and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Szczecin, and is also a visiting professor at VITEZ University (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Director of the Centre for Strategic Analysis at the University of Szczecin; member, treasurer (2013–2023), and vice-president (2023–) of the Polish branch of the International Law Association (ILA); member of the Polish Association of European Law; member of “Team Europe,” an expert group operating at the European Commission. She is part of the research team of the UNESCO Chair for Social Sustainability at the University of Szczecin and is also an author and editor of numerous publications in the field of international law, European Union law, and international protection of human rights.