Training package: prisoners of war and protected persons

Standardized educational package · updated on 08/20/2026

A route for determining the status of a person, the appropriate protection regime and documenting possible violations.

1. Purpose and expected result

Distinguish between the status of combatant, prisoner of war and protected civilian.
Determine the consequences of doubt about the status.
Assess treatment, conditions of detention and procedural safeguards.

2. Audience and prerequisites

For lawyers, judges, prosecutors, investigators and trainers. The basic prerequisite is an understanding of the Criminal Code and Criminal Code of Ukraine and the principles of international humanitarian law.

3. Approximate study plan

20 min — primary map of concepts.
60–90 min — work with primary sources.
45 min — practical exercise.
15 min — checklist and self-check.

4. Normative core

Start with current Ukrainian legislation and the relevant international treaty. Use policies, manuals and analytical materials according to their normative weight. Bills are not valid law.

5. Key sources

In the thematic selection, each source has a status, jurisdiction, date of last review, estimated time, and a brief practical conclusion.

6. Practical exercise

Build a decision tree to determine the status of a person.
For each fact, indicate the source of the information and the level of reliability.
Separate legal prosecution for crime from punishment for legal participation in hostilities.

7. Work checklist

Determine the nature of the conflict.
Gather facts about the person's affiliation and function.
Apply presumptions and procedure when in doubt.
Check the mode of maintenance and communication with the outside world.
Evaluate the guarantees of a fair trial.

8. Self-test: 10 questions

1. Has the nature of the armed conflict been determined?

Record the facts, the standard and the time limits, not just a summary label.

2. Is a specific rule of law named?

Referring only to Article 438 without a specific provision of IHL does not explain the nature of the violation.

3. Are material, mental and contextual elements separated?

For each element there must be a separate fact, source and level of proof.

4. Has the status of the person or object been verified?

The status is determined by the facts at the relevant time and may require separate proof.

5. Has the nexus with the armed conflict been proven?

Temporal proximity to a war does not in itself always prove the necessary connection.

6. Is the provenance of each piece of evidence reproduced?

Check the source file, metadata, receive, transfer and conversion log.

7. Have alternative explanations been tested?

A strong position should directly test versions compatible with innocence or other qualifications.

8. Are the materials taken into account in favor of the defense?

Check disclosure for completeness and record requests for missing materials.

9. Has the editorial and procedural status of the source been verified?

Open the official text, date, instance and further history of the decision.

10. Are the limits of the conclusion formulated?

Separate established fact, expert assumption, analytical assessment and legal conclusion.

9. Ethics, safety and typical risks

Adhere to confidentiality, do no harm, data minimization and professional independence. The educational package is not an individual legal consultation.

10. Relevance and further education

Source status verified on August 20, 2026. Before procedural use, double-check the edition. The recommended cycle of editorial review is once a quarter.