The article is devoted to the study of international legal aspects of the settlement of crimes related to military service and crimes committed during hostilities. The analysis of the international legislation and the legislation of Ukraine, their evolution and development in different periods of history concerning the essence of war crimes is carried out.

In addition, it was noted that there are problems in defining the term crime, which in modern criminal law does not have a generally accepted definition. The most popular view is that crime is a category created by law. Therefore, a crime is anything that does not comply with the law. One of the proposed definitions is the following: a crime or misdemeanor (criminal offense) is an act that harms not only the individual but also the community, society or state.

At the same time, the article mentions the international legal aspect in the regulation of war crimes, namely the Geneva Conventions: the Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which in 1949 (after World War II) improving the fate of the wounded and sick. Conventions also define acts that are crimes.

It is noted that the development of military law has also led to changes in the understanding of the concept of war crime and the introduction of appropriate responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the occupied territories.

It is also emphasized that the issue of war is currently the most relevant for the realities of Ukraine and the world as a whole. Namely, the situation with the southern part of our country – Crimea and the events taking place in the east force us to react urgently to new threats and stand in the way of counteracting new problems of criminal law.

Key words: military criminal offense, military criminal law, military service, serviceman, criminal liability.

References

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