Ukraine
Practice Relating to Rule 50. Destruction and Seizure of Property of an Adversary
Ukraine’s IHL Manual (2004) states:
1.3.2. The following methods of warfare shall be prohibited … destruction or seizure of enemy property unless such acts have been dictated by military necessity.
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1.8.6. Serious violations directed against property include the following acts if they are not justified by military necessity:
- extensive destruction of property;
- extensive appropriation of property.
The manual further states that, during the conduct of hostilities: “In exceptional circumstances … the commander (commanding officer) may designate … missions … to destroy or capture enemy property.”
Under Ukraine’s Criminal Code (2001), “unlawful destruction or taking of property under the pretext of military necessity” is a war crime.