On 26 May, an international conference ‘Building Bridges Through Justice: Overcoming the Consequences of Russian Aggression’, organised by the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), was held in Kyiv. Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, attended the event.

During the panel discussion, ‘Challenges of Justice in Overcoming the Consequences of Russian Aggression’, the Deputy Minister, alongside representatives from the national government, parliament, international organisations, civil society, and human rights institutions, debated how a comprehensive national justice policy could help to overcome the consequences of the war and ensure a decent future for its victims.

‘We talk a lot about defence, recovery, and victory. But there is another important topic: justice. After all, war is not only about destroyed buildings; it is also about destroyed lives. Transitional justice provides answers and helps people return to normal life. At the Ministry, this is our daily work with people who have lost their homes, relatives, and sense of stability. We are trying to do more than just restore infrastructure; we are also supporting people so they know the state is standing by them and fighting for their right to justice,’ said Oleksii Riabykin.

Mr Riabykin paid special attention to the issue of internally displaced persons. According to the Deputy Minister, there are over 4.5 million IDPs in Ukraine at present, with more than 70% having already integrated into new communities. The Ministry for Development is currently implementing a comprehensive support programme for IDPs.

The initiative covers affordable housing solutions, economic support, employment opportunities, education and retraining, medical services, social protection, and assistance for children and young people who have left the temporarily occupied territories or returned from deportation.

In addition to domestic programmes, Ukraine is taking part in international justice mechanisms. According to Oleksii Riabykin, one such instrument is the Register of Damage for Ukraine at the Council of Europe in The Hague, which records losses caused by Russian aggression. The Ministry for Development is transferring data on destroyed infrastructure, damaged housing and community losses from Ukrainian registers and databases to this Register. This information will form the basis for future compensation for victims.

Ukraine also supports the idea of establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine. This would ensure that Russia’s top leadership is held accountable for the invasion and warfare.