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U.S., Ukraine partner on operational law course to strengthen lawful defense of unlawful invasion
U.S. European Command Staff Judge Advocate U.S. Army Col. Ian Iverson provides welcoming remarks to Ukrainian Armed Forces and U.S. Army Europe and Africa military legal professionals ahead of a two-week course on operational law held in Poland from July 22 to Aug. 5, 2024. The training aimed to inform U.S. military lawyers of the unique challenges facing UAF counterparts, and support those Ukrainian military legal professionals in advising their commanders and enabling operations.
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U.S., Ukraine partner on operational law course to strengthen lawful defense of unlawful invasion
Defense Institute of International Legal Studies Institutional capacity building attorneys engage with legal colleagues from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense during a recent two-week proof of concept training course on operational law held in Poland from July 22 to Aug. 5, 2024. The pilot course was the culmination of a year-long effort to create an organic Ukrainian training course for legal advisors on the relevant legal issues of armed conflict.
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U.S., Ukraine partner on operational law course to strengthen lawful defense of unlawful invasion
U.S. European Command Staff Judge Advocate U.S. Army Col. Ian Iverson greets Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Legal Department Col. Kyrylo Hankevych ahead of a two-week course on operational law held in Poland from July 22 to Aug. 5, 2024. During a key-leader engagement following his remarks, Iverson and Ukrainian counterparts discussed future legal training and exchange opportunities between the U.S. and the UAF to further inform one another's knowledge in a rapidly evolving battlespace.
Photo by: U.S. European Command Public Affairs
The Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) and legal representatives from U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense recently partnered to conduct a two-week proof of concept training course on operational law held in Poland from July 22 to Aug. 5, 2024. The course was specifically tailored to train Ukrainian legal advisors providing operational law guidance to battlefield commanders.
“Any cooperation with partners is valuable – it's not just about weapons, money, or ammunition, it's about sharing experience and knowledge. I thank The Defense Institute of International Legal Studies for their cooperation. Congratulations to the officers of the Legal Service of the Ministry of Defense system on completing the professional course. Apply the knowledge for the benefit of Ukraine”, said Oleksandr Balanutsa, the Ukraine Deputy Minister of Defenсe for European Integration.
“This course is only one facet of an ongoing and a sustained DIILS partnership with Ukraine,” said U.S. Army Col. Elizabeth Allen, DIILS director. “Our team will continue to be responsive to emergent Ukrainian legal needs. In coordination with USEUCOM, we will maintain and cultivate this vital partnership with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense through other DIILS and Defense Security Cooperation University Institutional Capacity Building lines of effort, which bolster Ukrainian efforts to lawfully counter Russia’s invasion.”
With Ukrainian operational legal advisors in attendance as students, the pilot course provided an opportunity for critique and adjustment before the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense permanently incorporates the curriculum into their training regimen. The training aims to inform deploying Ukrainian legal advisors about military operational law duties, to include ensuring Ukrainian military operations comply with the law of armed conflict, and equipping legal advisors to better identify Russian violations of the law of armed conflict.
“This course is a powerful symbol highlighting the moral and legal differences between the military actions of Russia and those of Ukraine,” said U.S. Army Col. Ian Iverson, USEUCOM’s staff judge advocate, during course opening remarks. “And you, as Ukrainian legal advisors, play a critical role in ensuring that Ukrainian military operations comply with the applicable laws of armed conflict; you play a critical role in safeguarding Ukraine’s legitimacy and international support.”
During a key leader engagement following opening remarks, Allen and the Staff Judge Advocates for U.S. Army Europe and Security Assistance Group – Ukraine met with Ukrainian counterparts led by Col. Kyrylo Hankevych, deputy director of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's legal department. Discussions focused on future legal training and exchange opportunities between the U.S. and the Ukrainian Armed Forces to further inform one another's knowledge in a rapidly evolving battlespace.
“Our Ukrainian legal colleagues demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the law of armed conflict, especially in the context of the learned experience of fighting against an unlawful invasion,” said Allen.
The recent pilot course was the culmination of a year-long effort to create an organic Ukrainian training course for legal advisors on the relevant legal issues of armed conflict, with particular focus on the current war with Russia. Additionally, wartime innovations reinforced a need to ensure the course incorporated the latest legal developments for an increasingly sophisticated battlefield.
“While Russia prosecutes an unlawful war of aggression, Ukraine is showing the world that it is committed to adhering to international law,” Iverson said. “In stark comparison to Russia’s malign and unlawful activities, Ukraine maintains a legitimate, lethal, and lawful force that, with the support of Ukraine’s international partners, will defeat Russian military objectives.”
DIILS and Ukrainian operational law experts met in person multiple times in the past year, with much work completed between each meeting. DIILS and Ukrainian legal teams collaborated to create and review training briefs. The briefs were complete with video clips, scenarios and discussion points, which incorporated and applied both international and Ukrainian law as it relates to armed conflict.
As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University, DIILS’ broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable, and legally compliant manner.
