“Ukraine on Fire” – Some Remarks on the Causes and Effects of Russia’s War with Ukraine and the Impact of Hostilities on the Right to Secure Critical Infrastructure

Abstract

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, taking place since 24.02.2022, reflects the grow-ing antagonism between civilisations, becoming a test for Europe’s alliance with the United States (the Atlantic civilisation) and a test of the strength of the ties between Russia, China, and India (the Pacific civilisation). The “special military operation” carried out by the Russians inside Ukraine is fraught with manipulation. It is also an abuse of the R2P doctrine. The attempt to annihilate the Ukrainian people by destroying Ukrainian critical infrastructure linked to European infrastructure makes it clear that the involvement of NATO countries is inevitable. These events have become the background for the emergence of a new subjective right – the right to secure critical infrastructure allowing for continued operations of both states and societies. After the end of military operations, it will be necessary to determine the war reparations and to shape a new consciousness of the Ukrainian people. These considerations lead also to the question of when and how Russia’s aggression on Ukrainian territory will end. The authors of the article are unable to answer the first of these questions, for obvious reasons. The second question, however, may be answered based on a vision of the future new world order.

Keywords

• clash of civilisations
• critical infrastructure
• responsibility to protect (r2p)