Ukraine is set to initiate the establishment of a Special Tribunal in the Netherlands to address Russia’s acts of aggression, with plans to begin organizational work in 2026. This announcement was made by Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the President’s Office, during an international justice conference on February 23.
Mudra emphasized that 2025 will be pivotal for formalizing legal frameworks aimed at holding Russia accountable. Ukraine and its partners have reached a political consensus on the tribunal’s creation and have signed a Council of Europe convention concerning compensation mechanisms.
“What we need to do in 2026 is to start practically implementing this legal architecture,” Mudra stated.
She outlined that the focus for 2026 will include selecting a venue for the tribunal, determining the number of prosecutors and judges, and establishing operational rules.
“I sincerely hope that by the end of the year, we will have a clear vision of when the tribunal will commence operations and when the first Russian criminals will be brought to justice,” she added.
Mudra also addressed ongoing discussions regarding Russian assets, asserting that Ukraine is firm in its belief that Russia should bear the financial burden for the damages incurred. “Their assets cannot just remain idle and not contribute to compensating for the losses,” she remarked.
The initiative for the Special Tribunal has gained traction since the NATO Parliamentary Assembly designated Russia as a terrorist state on November 21, 2022, and supported the resolution for the tribunal’s establishment. However, this resolution requires national-level approval from each member country.
On November 8, 2023, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill to create a Register of Damages caused by Russia, aimed at protecting the rights and interests of Ukraine and its citizens. This legislation facilitates the reporting of war-related damages and supports the development of compensation mechanisms. Subsequently, on March 22, 2024, an office for the damage register was inaugurated in Kyiv.
On May 9, 2025, EU foreign ministers and senior officials endorsed the launch of the Special Tribunal to address the aggression of Russia’s military and political leadership against Ukraine.
The tribunal will operate in The Hague, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressing expectations for initial rulings from the tribunal by 2026.
On May 14, the Council of Europe endorsed the tribunal’s establishment, and over 40 countries have joined the coalition supporting its creation. On June 25, President Zelensky and Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić signed an agreement to establish the tribunal, with the final version of its statute published on the Council of Europe’s website.
On July 15, the Ukrainian parliament ratified the agreement for the tribunal’s establishment between Ukraine and the Council of Europe.
Ukraine plans to launch a Special Tribunal in the Netherlands by 2026 to prosecute Russian aggression. Key legal frameworks are being established to facilitate this process, alongside discussions on compensation for damages caused by Russia.