In the past two years, Ukraine has reported over 125,000 instances of war crimes committed by Russian forces since their invasion. Additionally, in 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes related to the deportation and transport of Ukrainian children to Russia.

The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Beth Van Schaack, stated in an interview with VOA’s Ukrainian Service that there may be more ICC arrest warrants for Russian leaders and additional U.S. court cases for alleged Russian war crimes against American citizens in Ukraine.

The following conversation has been revised for better understanding and to make it shorter.

Ukrainian officials have recorded over 125,000 war crimes leading up to the two-year mark of Russian aggression against Ukraine. This figure has doubled compared to the previous year. Has this past year made any progress towards achieving justice?

Van Schaack: Indeed, progress has been made. Our collaboration with the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group has provided a strong foundation for supporting the prosecutor general in Ukraine. As a result, these cases are currently advancing. Furthermore, there have been developments at the International Criminal Court, including the issuance of two arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova Belova, the “children’s rights commissioner.”

Finally, we have witnessed the creation of the International Center for the Prosecution of Aggression in The Hague. This organization consists of prosecutors who aim to bring charges against those responsible for the crime of aggression, known by many in Ukraine as the source of all subsequent war crimes and crimes against humanity.

According to your observation, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin this year. However, it appears that he has not been traveling abroad frequently. Do you think the world is getting closer to actually arresting Putin and holding him accountable for any war crimes?

Van Schaack: It’s important to recognize that legal proceedings can be lengthy and complex. The ICC is not able to conduct trials in the absence of the accused, so they require custody in order to carry out a thorough adversarial process. However, they can still use this time to prepare their cases, ready their witnesses for testimony, gather evidence, and collaborate with prosecutors globally.

We have witnessed the consequences of these warrants. Putin was requested to participate in the BRICS conference held in South Africa, where the country’s legal system and its citizens actively rallied to emphasize that South Africa is bound by the Rome Statute. As a member of the ICC, South Africa is obligated to cooperate with the court’s decisions and carry out any arrest warrants issued.

Can we anticipate further arrest warrants being issued against Russian officials?

Van Schaack: It is important to note that the investigation in The Hague by the prosecutor’s office is still ongoing. It is likely that they are examining potential attacks on civilians and mistreatment of prisoners of war. We trust that there will be further charges filed against the original defendants, or possibly new defendants and arrest warrants against individuals in the Russian chain of command.

The United States has recently launched the initial inquiries into alleged Russian war crimes committed against American citizens. Why is this significant and do you anticipate further incidents of this nature?

Van Schaack: This is a significant progress. It shows the dedication of the United States, the Department of Justice, and its War Crimes Accountability Team to contribute to the overall effort of seeking justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. I am optimistic that this is only the beginning of many charges. However, our system requires us to have custody of the accused. Wherever these individuals may go, they are at risk of being detained and eventually extradited to the United States to face justice.

The U.S. has announced its backing for the establishment of a global court to examine Russia’s act of aggression towards Ukraine. Has the U.S. and its allies reached a mutual agreement on this matter?

Van Schaack: The establishment of a tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression is approaching. The European External Action Service has suggested innovative ideas to reconcile the two existing models – a fully international tribunal and a hybrid tribunal integrated into the Ukrainian system. A team of experienced international criminal lawyers and diplomats meet monthly to finalize the details.