Authors

Discussion

The paper explores the dual role of human rights in the context of hybrid conflicts, focusing on the Russian-Ukrainian war from 2014 to 2022. Human rights, often regarded as a universal standard for justice, have become a potent tool both for legitimising and de-legitimising state power. In the hybrid warfare phase of this war, human rights violations were strategically employed by both sides to shape international and domestic narratives. Russia leveraged allegations of human rights abuses to delegitimise the Ukrainian government and justify its own actions, framing its intervention as a response to the alleged mistreatment of Russian-speaking populations. In response, the Ukrainian government had to demonstrate a commitment to protecting human rights, navigating the complex landscape of wartime governance while balancing military imperatives with legal and ethical obligations. This paper critically examines how human rights discourse became a double-edged sword, influencing the power dynamics and legitimacy struggles in this hybrid conflict.