CONCEPT AND TYPES OF ARMED CONFLICT

Abstract

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the concept and classification of armed conflicts as a fundamental institution of international humanitarian law and international law in general.The author analyzes existing doctrinal and legal approaches to defining an armed conflict, highlighting its main characteristics, intensity thresholds, and the level of organization of the parties involved. Special attention is paid to the distinction between international and non-international armed conflicts and the specifics of their legal regulation under the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols thereto.In the context of modern threats to international security, the author explores the issue of qualifying so-called “hybrid” armed conflicts, which combine traditional hostilities with the use of non-conventional methods, including information warfare, cyber operations, and the participation of non-state armed actors. At the same time, the article emphasizes the law enforcement challenges arising from the absence of a unified legal definition of “armed conflict” in Ukrainian legislation, significantly complicating the legal qualification of events taking place in Ukraine since 2014.The study includes an overview of scholarly opinions of Ukrainian and foreign researchers, as well as an analysis of international legal acts and national legal sources regulating relations during armed conflicts.The author substantiates the necessity of implementing clear international legal standards into the national legislation of Ukraine to ensure legal certainty, protect human rights, and prosecute those responsible for war crimes.The article aims to deepen the scientific understanding of armed conflicts, improve law enforcement practice in the field of international humanitarian law, and provide recommendations for enhancing Ukraine’s legislative framework.