TY - JOUR
T1 - Russia's attacks on civilians strengthen Ukrainian resistance
AU - Bartusevičius, Henrikas
AU - Van Leeuwen, Florian
AU - Mazepus, Honorata
AU - Laustsen, Lasse
AU - Forø Tollefsen, Andreas
PY - 2023/12/1
Y1 - 2023/12/1
N2 - The all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine commencing in February 2022 has been characterized by systematic violence against civilians. Presumably, the commanders of Russian forces believe that, for example, the bombing of residential buildings will force Ukrainians to lay down their arms. We ask whether military attacks against civilians deter or, in contrast, motivate resistance against the attackers. Two-wave probability surveys were collected in Ukraine in March and April 2022 (Ns = 1,081 and 811, respectively). Preregistered analyses indicate that perceptions and experience of military attacks (victimization) did not decrease Ukrainians' motivations to resist the invading forces. The analyses suggest that victimization positively relates to motivations to join military combat in defense positions. Military attacks against civilians are morally impermissible and prohibited under international humanitarian law. Our results suggest that such attacks are also counterproductive from a military perspective.
AB - The all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine commencing in February 2022 has been characterized by systematic violence against civilians. Presumably, the commanders of Russian forces believe that, for example, the bombing of residential buildings will force Ukrainians to lay down their arms. We ask whether military attacks against civilians deter or, in contrast, motivate resistance against the attackers. Two-wave probability surveys were collected in Ukraine in March and April 2022 (Ns = 1,081 and 811, respectively). Preregistered analyses indicate that perceptions and experience of military attacks (victimization) did not decrease Ukrainians' motivations to resist the invading forces. The analyses suggest that victimization positively relates to motivations to join military combat in defense positions. Military attacks against civilians are morally impermissible and prohibited under international humanitarian law. Our results suggest that such attacks are also counterproductive from a military perspective.
KW - Resistance
KW - Ukraine
KW - Victimization
KW - Violence
KW - War
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180100113&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad386
DO - 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad386
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38089601
SN - 2752-6542
VL - 2
JO - PNAS Nexus
JF - PNAS Nexus
IS - 12
M1 - pgad386
ER -