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Introduction: The Blurring Boundary of Modern Warfare

In modern armed conflicts, the boundary between military objectives and civilian infrastructure has become increasingly blurred. During the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine’s targeted strikes against Russian refineries, railway junctions, and fuel storage facilities have sparked debates regarding their legality under international law:

The Concept of Dual-Use Infrastructure

According to Article 52 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, civilian objects are protected from direct attack unless they make an effective contribution to military action:

The Physical Vulnerability of Dual-Use Infrastructure and Air Defense Limits

A critical factor that exacerbates the strategic significance of dual-use infrastructure is its extreme physical vulnerability:

The Dilemma of Civilian Disruption and the Principle of Proportionality

This structural vulnerability directly deepens the ethical and legal dilemma: when fragile logistics networks are paralyzed, the civilian population inevitably suffers severe economic disruption and daily hardship:

Compliance with Core Principles of International Law

In practice, lawful targeting requires strict adherence to distinction, proportionality, and military necessity. Ukraine’s precision strikes generally meet these standards:

Contrast with Unlawful Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure

The legality of attacks depends heavily on intent, targeting logic, and adherence to IHL principles:

Conclusion: Legal Status of Strategic Supply Chain Targets

Attacking civilian-owned or dual-use logistics infrastructure is not an automatic violation of international law, even if it exploits physical vulnerabilities and indirectly disrupts civilian life.

So long as an infrastructure facility directly contributes to military operations, destroying it serves a clear military necessity, and collateral harm to civilian survival is carefully minimized, such attacks remain lawful acts of self-defense under International Humanitarian Law.

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