The Concept of Territorial Integrity in International Law – What Are the Implications for Crimea?

Abstract

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is, at least on the surface, one about control over territories. This paper sets out the international law on territorial protection and raises the question whether and how Ukraine’s territorial integrity has been violated by Crimean separatists and Russia. After a general introduction (I), it lays out the dimensions of territorial protection under international law (II) and then applies these notions to the Crimean case (III). In a further step it discusses the limits of territorial protection (IV) and, also, how states in general and Ukraine in particular may react to violations of their territory in accordance with international law (V).

Keywords: territorial integrity, Ukraine, Russia, use of force