Sign in Subscribe
University of Copenhagen

War Crimes in Ukraine: New Research Reveals Extensive Evidence and Judicial Trends

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Fresh data from the University of Copenhagen has shed light on the alarming situation of war crimes in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The research, published in the Journal of International Criminal Justice in 2025, highlights the widespread nature of alleged war crimes and the importance of maintaining fair trial safeguards. The study examines a dataset of 91 judgments delivered between 2022 and 2025, revealing notable patterns in domestic war crimes trials, including the application of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Key Takeaways:

  • Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the country has become a crime scene, with over 172,000 criminal proceedings initiated under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
  • Ukrainian courts have delivered more than 100 war crimes judgments, covering a wide range of crimes, including murder, cruel treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, pillage, and attacks on civilians.
  • The research highlights the importance of ratifying the Rome Statute to enhance the domestic application of international law and improve the quality of legal reasoning in war crimes cases.
  • In absentia trials are becoming a formalistic tool for securing convictions rather than delivering justice, highlighting the risk of compromised domestic accountability processes.
  • The study underscores the need for maintaining fair trial safeguards as stipulated in Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights to uphold the legitimacy of domestic accountability processes.
  • Notable patterns in domestic war crimes trials include the application of Article 438 of the CCU, judicial reasoning, the assessment of evidence, and sentencing trends in selected war crimes judgments.
  • The research argues that external political pressures placed on Ukraine and shifting geopolitical dynamics should not compromise the domestic prosecution and adjudication of war crimes.

Statistics:

  • Over 172,000 criminal proceedings initiated under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
  • More than 100 war crimes judgments delivered by Ukrainian courts, covering a wide range of crimes.
  • 91 judgments delivered between 2022 and 2025 comprise the dataset examined by the research.
  • 6 selected judgments related to cruel treatment, pillage, and sexual and gender-based violence rendered by first instance courts in the Kyiv, Poltava, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions.

Sources:

  • "Rough Waters or Smooth Sailing?: Taking Stock of War Crimes Judgments By Ukrainian Courts. Journal of International Criminal Justice, 2025."
  • University of Copenhagen
  • Journal of International Criminal Justice (Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England)
  • NewsRx. Data from University of Copenhagen Provide New Insights into War Crimes (Rough Waters or Smooth Sailing?: Taking Stock of War Crimes Judgments By Ukrainian Courts). Leisure & Travel Week. November 1, 2025; p 26.

Read more