Key Takeaways for CHM in Large-Scale Combat Operations

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the complexity and intensity of military operations in Ukraine have resulted in protection challenges rarely seen at such magnitude. The resulting devastation of civilian lives and livelihoods pose important questions about the existing conceptualizations of civilian harm mitigation (CHM) when applied to large-scale combat operations (LSCO). As states are considering how CHM efforts can be scaled to fit LSCO, this briefing provides eight key takeaways from the ongoing war in Ukraine, providing an initial reflection on the application of CHM in LSCO contexts.