Moral injury in war: Why “just warriors” suffer and what it reveals

In this paper author explores the concept of moral injury in war and, more specifically, its implications on ethics of war and Just War Theory (JWT). The author examines the occurrence of moral injury in combatants who kill according to the in Bello rules while fighting for the ?just? side, revealing that perception of deep moral transgression happens despite legal and ethical justification provided by JWT. Drawing on empirical studies and JWT literature, author critiques JWT revisionism and its assumption of moral asymmetry between combatants. Author argues that the ontological nature of war, which alters the peacetime meaning of notions, renders all combatants morally equal and equally capable of suffering moral injury. Ultimately, the paper contends that the suffering of ?just warriors? exposes the limitations of JWT revisionism and reaffirms the moral equality of combatants and moral tragedy inherent in armed conflict.