War crimes

Russian soldiers imprisoned hundreds of civilians in this basement in Yagidne village in the Chernihiv region for weeks. The list of those who died or were killed was kept on the wall. © Iryna Venediktova, former Prosecutor General of Ukraine/Facebook

Three Russian Soldiers Charged with War Crimes

Trial proceedings to investigate how residents of village were brutalised and held as human shields.

25 Oct 22

A session of the trial against Russian lieutenant Sergey Dmytrovych Stainer, who was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment in Ukraine's first verdict in absentia on September 26. © Irina Domashchenko

Ukraine Issues First Verdict in Absentia Against Russian Soldier

A court in Kyiv sentenced a lieutenant to nine years in prison for war crimes committed in the Kyiv region.

18 Oct 22

Tuesday, 18 October ‘22

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

18 Oct 22

An half destroyed building in Bashtanka, a town of 12,000 in Mykolaiv region. In March Russian troops faced fierce resistance from the local population and were pushed out but the town bears the wounds of hard shelling. © IWPR/Anastasia Rokytna

Resistance and Destruction in Mykolaiv Region

The Ukrainian counter-offensive has regained swathes of territory, but towns are devastated following savage bombardment.

12 Oct 22

Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya speaks during a United Nations General Assembly special session at the United Nations headquarters on October 10, 2022 in New York City. © Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Can Russia’s UN Veto be Removed?

Ukraine is exploring creative ways to deprive Russia of its power within the security council.

11 Oct 22

Emergency service personnel attend to the site of a blast on October 10, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Explosions came shortly after 8:00 local time, were the largest such attacks in the capital in months. © Ed Ram/Getty Images

Ukraine’s Legislative Challenge

International standards, principles and provisions need to be incorporated - and fast - for effective war crimes prosecutions.

11 Oct 22

Tuesday, 11 October ‘22

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

11 Oct 22

Ukrainian flags are displayed in the town square on September 29, 2022 in Balakiya, Ukraine. Balakiya was under Russian occupation for six months, the mayor collaborated with Russians, sparing the city from major destruction. © Paula Bronstein /Getty Images

“Justice is Costly, but Also Priceless.”

Head of Nobel peace prize winning NGO tells IWPR that Ukraine must win a “fundamental battle of values”.

7 Oct 22

Forensics experts exhume bodies from unidentified makeshift graves at the Pishanske cemetery on September 21, 2022 in Izium, Ukraine. The bodies will be examined by forensic officials for possible war crimes. Izium was recently liberated from Russian occupation after six months. Approximately 440 bodies are buried at the cemetery, so far over 338 bodies have been exhumed, taken to the morgue in Kharkiv. © Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Ukraine: Why a Special Tribunal is Crucial

The world has to show that responsibility for the crime of aggression is real, and not just theoretically provided for by the norms of international law.

4 Oct 22

Tuesday, 4 October ‘22

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

4 Oct 22

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War crimes

Three Russian Soldiers Charged with War Crimes

Ukraine Issues First Verdict in Absentia Against Russian Soldier

Tuesday, 18 October ‘22

Resistance and Destruction in Mykolaiv Region

Can Russia’s UN Veto be Removed?

Ukraine’s Legislative Challenge

Tuesday, 11 October ‘22

“Justice is Costly, but Also Priceless.”

Ukraine: Why a Special Tribunal is Crucial

Tuesday, 4 October ‘22

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