Russia’s war against Ukraine: the fight against impunity

Holding Russia accountable

Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, numerous credible reports have documented the commission of core international crimes and atrocity crimes in Ukraine – crimes that continue to this day.

Core international crimes and atrocity crimes constitute the most serious violations of international law. They include crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and crimes of aggression.

The EU and its member states are strongly committed to ensuring that all these grave atrocities committed by Russia in and against Ukraine do not go unpunished.

War crimes committed in Ukraine

To support the prosecution of Russia’s war crimes and crimes against humanity, the EU has taken a number of measures, including referring Russia to the International Criminal Court in March 2022 and setting up:

a joint investigation team within Eurojust (March 2022)
the collection of war crimes data within Europol (March 2022)
the EU advisory mission in Ukraine (April 2022)
a crimes evidence database at Eurojust (February 2023)
a taskforce within Europol to help identify suspects (September 2023)

International Criminal Court

In March 2022, all of the EU member states, together with other partner countries, decided to collectively refer the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC). In addition to the investigation by the ICC prosecutor, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has also opened an investigation, as have the authorities of several member states.

The EU has supported the International Criminal Court’s capacities with €7.25 million.

Alleged crimes committed in the context of situation in Ukraine (International Criminal Court)

Eurojust

In March 2022, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) supported the establishment of a joint investigation team on alleged crimes committed in Ukraine. The investigation team seeks to enhance judicial cooperation between the competent authorities involved in the investigation and prosecution of core international crimes at national and international level.

It is currently comprised of the judicial authorities of Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland Romania and Slovakia. Eurojust, Europol and the ICC also participate in the work of the investigation team.

Joint investigation team into alleged crimes committed in Ukraine (Eurojust)

To support the investigation and prosecution of core international crimes committed in Ukraine, in May 2022, the Council adopted new rules making Eurojust a central hub for the collection, analysis and sharing of evidence. Under this new framework, Eurojust can:

store and preserve evidence related to war crimes, including satellite images, photographs, videos, audio recordings, DNA profiles and fingerprints
process and analyse this evidence and share it with the relevant national and international authorities

In this context, Eurojust set up the core international crimes evidence database in February 2023. This tailor-made tool enables Eurojust to support national judicial authorities in identifying parallel investigations and in coordinating evidence of core international crimes that may be crucial to their investigations.

Europol

The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) began collecting relevant war crimes data from various sources (law enforcement, NGOs and open sources) in March 2022 to support investigations into and prosecutions of atrocities committed in Ukraine.

The agency also supported the launch of a taskforce in September 2023 to help identify suspects and their involvement in core international crimes and atrocity crimes committed in Ukraine through the collection and analysis of open-source intelligence.

Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (Europol)

EU advisory mission in Ukraine

In April 2022, the Council amended the mandate of the EU advisory mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine) to allow it to support accountability efforts. EUAM Ukraine now provides strategic advice and training to Ukrainian authorities on the investigation and prosecution of international crimes.

EUAM Ukraine also donates funds and equipment to Ukrainian authorities to facilitate their efforts. The mission coordinates with the ICC and Eurojust, as well as with member states acting in direct support of the investigation and prosecution of international crimes.

Crime of aggression against Ukraine

To support the prosecution of Russia’s crime of aggression, the EU has endorsed the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and launched the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine.

A crime of aggression is a crime committed by a country’s political and military leadership against another country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence.

Crimes of aggression include invasion, military occupation, annexation by the use of force, bombardment and blockade of ports. As Russia is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, the Court does not have jurisdiction over its crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine

On 9 May 2025, the EU, the Council of Europe, Ukraine and an international coalition of states endorsed the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

On 15 May 2026, the EU joined the enlarged partial agreement of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, the document setting out the institutional, financial and administrative arrangements established for the special tribunal. Following this decision, participating states and organisations will be able to ratify the convention which will officially establish the special tribunal. The EU is financially supporting the establishment of the special tribunal with €10 million.

Once set up within the Council of Europe, the tribunal will have the power to investigate, prosecute and try Russian political and military leaders responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine

Eurojust hosts the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine, which was established in July 2023.

The centre aims to support and coordinate national investigations into the crime of aggression related to the war in Ukraine and facilitate case-building for any future trials, including those before the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine (Eurojust)

Paying for the damage done

The EU is committed to ensuring that Ukraine and its people receive full reparations for the damage caused by Russia's war of aggression. To this end, the EU has joined the Register of Damage for Ukraine and signed the Convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine.

Register of Damage for Ukraine

The Register of Damage for Ukraine, established in May 2023 within the Council of Europe, records eligible claims for compensation for damage, loss or injury resulting from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The register opened to applications in April 2024.

The European Union and 44 states have joined the register.

Register of Damage for Ukraine (Council of Europe)

International Claims Commission for Ukraine

On 16 December 2025, the EU, along with 35 countries, signed the Convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine.

On 15 May 2026, the EU ratified the convention, becoming a founding member. The Claims Commission will be set up within the framework of the Council of Europe and will start its work after it has gathered 25 ratifications with sufficient financial contributions. The EU is supporting the establishment of the Claims Commission with up to €1 million.

Once established, the International Claims Commission will review, assess and decide on eligible claims and determine the amount of compensation due for damage, loss or injury caused by internationally wrongful acts committed by Russia in or against Ukraine.