The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is an international mechanism aimed at holding the senior political and military leadership of Russia accountable specifically for the criminal decision to launch and wage a war of aggression against Ukraine.
Why is the Special Tribunal needed?
The International Criminal Court cannot fully consider the specific crime of aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, a separate Special Tribunal is needed to close this gap in international law. It is the first tribunal for the crime of aggression since World War II and the third in history — after Nuremberg and Tokyo.
What has already been done?
Work on the Tribunal has passed the main legal stage. Over more than two years, an international coalition of states has prepared the legal framework for the creation and launch of the tribunal. The tribunal is now moving from the stage of a political decision to practical implementation.
Ukraine has already ratified a bilateral Agreement with the Council of Europe. Since February 2026, an advance team has begun its work in The Hague and Strasbourg, preparing the organizational launch of the tribunal. Its work includes resolving all issues preceding the establishment of the Management Committee, which will appoint judges and prosecutors. In particular, the advance team is preparing the premises and carrying out preparatory work for the launch of the tribunal. The European Union has allocated €10 million to support the activities of the advance team.
On May 14–15 in Chișinău, the Council of Europe is expected to take the next step toward launching the Special Tribunal and conclude an Agreement on the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal.
The level of support secured well exceeds the minimum required to sign the agreement. The first 20 states have already confirmed their intention to join: Austria, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Spain, Estonia, Costa Rica, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Poland, Portugal, France, Croatia, Sweden, and Ukraine. This opens the way for approval of the agreement in May, the launch of the Special Tribunal, and the further accession of new states.
After the completion of the preparatory stages, the tribunal is expected to move to full operation:
- investigations;
- bringing charges;
- trial proceedings and the delivery of verdicts on the crime of aggression.
Next stages in the creation of the Special Tribunal:
Phase 1 (Skeleton Tribunal) – a transitional stage. In The Hague, the “framework” of the institution is formed: 15 judges are selected for the roster, a Registrar is appointed, core staff are gradually recruited, procedural rules are approved, international cooperation agreements are concluded, and the administrative and technical infrastructure is established. At this stage, the tribunal does not yet administer justice but is finalizing preparations for its full launch.
Phase 2 (full-fledged Tribunal) – full operation of the Special Tribunal. After completing the preparatory stages, the institution moves to exercising its jurisdiction: investigations begin, charges are brought, trials are conducted, and verdicts are delivered regarding the crime of aggression. By this point, all key bodies must be established, permanent premises secured, and the security infrastructure and international cooperation mechanisms necessary for the effective administration of justice put in place.
Ukraine expects the Special Tribunal to become fully operational as early as next year.