This report is an assessment of the needs of Ukraine’s justice system, as well as the current state and potential of international mechanisms and initiatives in the context of investigating and prosecuting the most serious international crimes committed during Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The report was prepared by the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG), a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation working in the field of justice and accountability in the context of armed conflict.
The aim is to identify the key needs of Ukraine’s justice system in investigating and prosecuting international crimes, to ensure effective access to justice for victims and survivors, and to provide concrete recommendations for national and international stakeholders. The report also invites further dialogue on identifying challenges and seeking solutions.
The target audience includes: Ukrainian state authorities; law enforcement agencies, prosecution and judiciary; lawyers and representatives of civil society organisations; international partners supporting justice in Ukraine; technical assistance providers; and victims of the most serious crimes.
You can read the key findings on a separate page Conclusions and Recommendations.
Yes, the report contains recommendations. You can find the recommendations on the Conclusions and Recommendations page.
The report is based on both primary and secondary sources, including:
- survey results;
- focus groups;
- interviews with investigators and prosecutors;
- legal analysis;
- findings from victim representation work;
- analysis of public statements and statistics;
- analysis of institutional documents and strategies.
The report was primarily authored by the ULAG team. Independent national experts – including former justice sector officials and academics – as well as international consultants also contributed to its preparation.
The report highlights the barriers victims face and provides recommendations to improve their access to justice. We hope it will help better inform policymakers and decision-makers, and strengthen advocacy efforts for necessary reforms.
The report covers the period from the beginning of the armed conflict in Ukraine in 2014 through to February 2025. We plan to update it annually.
Please cite it as an online source with a hyperlink to this website. For example: Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group. Needs Assessment of Ukraine’s Justice System, 2025. Available online: [link]
This website is the only continuously updated source for accessing the report. However, if you need a PDF version, you can download it from the ULAG website (only the 2025 version is available and we do not plan to update the PDF).
You can send an email to the organisation (info@ulag.org.ua).
