New War Crimes Office to Hunt Putin Over Ukraine Invasion
An international crime-fighting office opens this Monday in The Hague to dig deep into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA) will bring together prosecutors from Kyiv, the EU, the US, and the International Criminal Court (ICC). It signals a big move towards a special tribunal aimed squarely at Kremlin bosses.
A Tribunal for Putin & Co?
The ICPA’s mission is clear: investigate, gather evidence, and lay the groundwork for a future tribunal to hold Russia’s top brass accountable for launching the war in Ukraine. Key figures like Ukrainian prosecutor general Andriy Kostin, ICC chief Karim Khan, US Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite, and EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders will announce plans at a press conference in Eurojust, the EU’s justice HQ.
Why a New Tribunal?
The ICC has been chasing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine but is limited—it cannot prosecute the broader crime of aggression, which is exactly the charge that could bring down Putin and his inner circle. The ICC did issue an arrest warrant against Putin in March over alleged child deportations, but many say that’s only part of the story.
Growing Momentum After Bucha Atrocities
Calls for a dedicated tribunal surged after horror scenes emerged from Bucha last April, where dozens of bodies were found following the retreat of Russian forces. Since then, international support surged, culminating in the EU launching the ICPA in February to target those who ordered the invasion.
Despite not being an ICC member, the US has plugged into this effort, with Attorney General Merrick Garland appointing Jessica Kim as a special prosecutor for the crime of aggression during his visit to The Hague in June.
The Road Ahead: Tough Questions Remain
But how the tribunal will actually work is still a hot topic. Ukraine wants a UN General Assembly resolution to back the court, while some Western allies push for a hybrid court mixing Ukrainian and international judges to boost credibility and support.
One thing’s clear: the hunt for justice over Ukraine’s war has just stepped up a gear.
