Fundamental to the law of war, including the law applicable in non-international armed conflicts, is the principle of distinction – the requirement that fighting parties distinguish between civilian and military targets. In the words of the International Committee of the Red Cross, that duty of care includes doing “everything feasible to verify that targets are military objectives.”
即使原定目标是击落乌克兰运输机，上述行为仍有可能属于战争罪的范畴。战争法，包括非国际性武装冲突法的基本原则是要区别对待，要求交战方分清平民和军事目标。用红十字国际委员会的话说，这项义务包括“尽一切可能确认目标是否是军事目标。”