Ukraine: 90% of POWs tortured, special tribunal for Russia needed

This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha at the conference “International Humanitarian Law in the Dimension of Modern Challenges,” which he attended together with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavský.

According to Sybiha, Ukraine has documented more than 175,000 war crimes committed by Russia.

“Russia illegally detains and forcibly relocates civilians, including abducting children. And Russia deliberately destroys civilian infrastructure. Human life has no value for the aggressor,” the diplomat said.

In his view, the only effective way to force the aggressor to comply with international humanitarian law is the inevitability of punishment.

Sybiha announced that Ukraine is initiating the creation of a “Platform for the Progressive Development of International Humanitarian Law,” which should unite states, international organizations, the expert community, and civil society. Its tasks will include identifying gaps in current international humanitarian law, developing new provisions on unresolved issues that take into account modern challenges, and promoting the implementation of additions to international humanitarian law. The minister stressed that Ukraine is ready to serve as the venue and coordinator of this platform.

“International humanitarian law is a guarantee of preserving humanity in the world. Together with international partners, Ukraine is working to ensure the inevitability of justice. No national jurisdiction alone is sufficient to address the scale of Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine,” Sybiha said.

Separately, he emphasized the importance of creating a Special Tribunal for Russia.

“This tribunal is intended to bring the Russian leadership to justice for their primary crimes — for the unprovoked unleashing of a bloody war of extermination in the 21st century,” Sybiha concluded.

• On April 20, 2024, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe instructed the Secretary General to begin preparing documents to facilitate consultations with Ukraine on the creation of a special tribunal for Russia’s crimes.
• In February 2025, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset expressed hope that the special tribunal for Russia would be launched this year. To do so, a structure must be created and resources allocated.
• On March 21, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced that work had been completed in Strasbourg on key legal documents for creating the special tribunal for Russia.
• In May, the Presidential Office stated that in 2025 the legal framework for the special tribunal on the crime of aggression by Russia against Ukraine could be finalized. The tribunal may start functioning as early as next year.