UK to increase funding for war crimes prosecution amid Russian invasion of Ukraine News
© WikiMedia (UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
UK to increase funding for war crimes prosecution amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

The UK government announced on Sunday a pledge of £4.5 million to support the prosecution of war crimes perpetrated in Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion. The announcement follows shortly after a legislative push, marked by the UK’s Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill, which frees up £2.26 billion by leveraging Russian sovereign assets as well as reinforcing military upgrades and critical equipment procurement.

UK leaders, including Defense Secretary John Healey and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, have emphasized the nation’s unwavering resolve to support Ukraine’s defense and accountability procedures. In a statement on X the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said, “As Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues over a third winter, the human cost of Putin’s war has become ever clearer. Today, we are announcing new support to help Ukraine pursue justice for the victims and survivors of war crimes.”

Commenting on the UK’s financial support for atrocity prosecutions, Ambassador Clint Williamson, lead coordinator for the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine told JURIST:

The Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine (ACA) welcomes this generous contribution from the British Government in support of ACA’s ongoing efforts to assist Ukrainian authorities in their investigations and prosecutions of war crimes stemming from Russia’s 2022 invasion. The UK has been a stalwart supporter of ACA since our inception, and in conjunction with the EU and US, has done much in terms of political, diplomatic and financial assistance to ensure that we, and ultimately our Ukrainian partners are successful in our pursuit for accountability

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the UK has extended refuge to over 300,000 Ukrainians and is now preparing to launch the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme in February 2025, enabling the continued stay of Ukrainian visa holders.

On the humanitarian front, the UK has dedicated £282 million to sectors such as energy, stabilization, and reconstruction, including a targeted £70 million investment in Ukraine’s energy resilience. Complementary to this is the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence training facilitated by the FCDO to ensure thorough and survivor-focused investigations.

As part of its commitment to Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict, the UK has allocated significant resources for humanitarian aid and justice initiatives. The UK plans to provide at least £120 million in humanitarian assistance through the end of the financial year 2024 to 2025, bringing its total humanitarian contribution to approximately £477 million since the onset of the full-scale invasion.

The UK has committed £6.2 million to support Ukraine’s domestic investigations into war crimes, alongside an additional £2.3 million for the International Criminal Court.

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