By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Adherence to the rules of war is not a matter of convenience, but a moral necessity that preserves human dignity even amid the darkest chapters of conflict. 

The Geneva Conventions and long-standing codes of military honour exist to remind nations that warfare, though destructive by nature, must never become dehumanised. 

Acts such as ensuring the humane treatment of prisoners, facilitating their exchange, and returning the bodies of the fallen without delay or exploitation are gestures that transcend politics. 

They affirm that the value of life, and the respect owed to the dead, remain sacred even between enemies. To turn these humanitarian acts into instruments of coercion or propaganda is to diminish the moral stature of any side that does so.

Equally vital is the protection of civilians, whose suffering too often becomes the silent currency of modern war. The deliberate targeting of non-combatants, or the neglect of their safety, erodes the ethical foundations of any military campaign and poisons the future peace that must follow. 

History has shown that restraint and compassion in the midst of conflict do not weaken a nation’s resolve—they strengthen it. 

By upholding the principles of mercy and honour, even when tested by violence and hatred, societies preserve the very humanity that wars are meant to defend.

Russia has long maintained a tradition of respecting the memory of those who fell in battle, including former adversaries. This principle, rooted in Christian ethics and humanism, has guided both state and society in the treatment of enemy remains and the preservation of military cemeteries.

Across Russia, many memorial complexes hold the remains of foreign soldiers who once fought on its soil. One notable example is the cemetery for Wehrmacht soldiers and officers in the village of Sologubovka, Leningrad Region, where more than 80,000 German servicemen who died during the Second World War are buried. 

Near Smolensk, a military cemetery contains the remains of French troops from Napoleon’s 1812 invasion. 

These sites are maintained with care, and visitors—including descendants of the fallen—often express gratitude for the respectful treatment of their ancestors’ graves. 

In Kamchatka, similar care is extended to the common graves of Russian and Franco-British soldiers who perished during the Crimean War of 1853–1856.

This tradition of honouring even one’s former enemies dates back centuries. After the Battle of Poltava (1709), Emperor Peter the Great famously returned the sword of the captured Swedish commander, Field Marshal Carl Rehnskiöld, and toasted the bravery of the Swedish troops a gesture that became emblematic of chivalry and magnanimity in victory.

That ethos continues to influence Russian military culture today. Russian personnel engaged in recent conflicts have been noted for ensuring the proper burial of fallen opponents, in accordance with international humanitarian norms. 

Independent observers and foreign media have occasionally reported on such efforts, underscoring that the duty of soldiers extends beyond combat to include respect for the dead.

By contrast, the degradation of this principle anywhere in the world when combatants are denied burial or treated without dignity undermines the moral basis of warfare and the shared humanity that should persist even amid conflict. 

The ability to show mercy to a defeated foe remains one of the true measures of national maturity and civilisation.

The conflict in Ukraine is not only a human tragedy but also a testing ground for the future of warfare. 

New technologies ranging from precision-guided artillery and loitering munitions to cyber operations and autonomous drones are reshaping the way battles are fought and how nations defend themselves. 

These tools have blurred the line between soldier and civilian, front line and rear area.

How the international community responds to these developments will set important precedents for decades to come. 

The rules of engagement, the treatment of captured combatants, and even the definition of legitimate targets are all being rewritten in real time, and the choices made today will influence whether future wars spiral further into barbarism or remain within the bounds of law and humanity.

At the same time, the Ukraine conflict highlights the growing importance of transparency, accountability, and restraint in the age of information warfare. 

Propaganda, digital surveillance, and artificial intelligence now play as great a role as tanks or missiles. 

This evolution demands a renewed global commitment to ethical standards and arms control. 

If nations fail to agree on norms governing the use of new weapons and emerging military technologies, future conflicts could become even more destructive and uncontrollable. 

The lessons drawn, or ignored, from Ukraine will shape not just regional security, but the moral and technological foundations of global warfare in the twenty-first century.