The Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Universität Hamburg

Chapter 4

State terrorism by Russia?

by Johanna Klett

Is Russia committing state terrorism when it carries out airstrikes on civilians in Ukraine, or Ukraine when it attacks targets in Russian-controlled areas?

Tweet of the Russian Foreign Office from October 10, 2022:

What is terrorism?

Illustration: Marlin Beringer

The word "terrorism" (Latin "terrere") means "to frighten someone". After the French Revolution and battles between the government and the revolutionary forces of the people, it became generally accepted that "terrorism" meant the spreading of fear and terror through violence.

However, it is difficult to define the term more precisely.

An attempted definition

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorismus

A generally recognized legal definition of terrorism does not yet exist.

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter!

Other academic disciplines, such as social sciences, have also made various attempts to define terrorism.

Ultimately, terrorism is understood to mean actions that use violence to achieve a specific political purpose and spread fear and terror among the population through this violence.

Can a state be a terrorist?

Ilustration: Marlin Beringer

States are able to use force to intimidate a population and use this to their advantage. According to this definition, a state can commit a terrorist act (at least this is how state-sponsored terrorism is assumed by the USA in the case of Syria, Cuba, North Korea and Iran).

A terrorist act must always be directed against people. This also includes attacks on residential buildings or hospitals that endanger people.

How are the targeted attacks against civilians to be legally classified?

Tweet by President Wolodymyr Zelenskyy from October 10, 2022:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47958553">Link

Building of the International Criminal Court in The Hague

If one compares Russia's behavior with this definition, then targeted and systematic attacks against Ukrainian civilians constitute state terror. This is because Russia is pursuing the goal of frightening the people of Ukraine into surrendering and submitting to Russia.

At the same time, these attacks against the civilian population also constitute war crimes and could potentially be brought before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Under international criminal law, individuals can be charged and sentenced by the International Criminal Court.

But does this prospect of punishment have a deterrent effect and prevent crimes?