Between intentionality and inevitability: the origins of Russian war crimes in Ukraine

In this well-documented and informative article, the authors analyse the causes of Russian violence and war crimes in Ukraine. They highlight their multifactorial dimension and demonstrate the need to take account of two levels of analysis in order to understand them: "that of political intentionality from above and that of the inevitability of a downward spiral into violence from below". The article is essential if we are to grasp "the mechanical, rapid and irreversible brutalization of the conflict".