Holding russia Accountable: International Discussion on Ecocide in Ukraine to Take Place in The Hague

Three years ago, on June 6, 2023, russia destroyed the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, causing one of the largest environmental disasters in Europe in recent decades. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it may take years to fully understand the scale of its consequences.

Yet this was not an isolated crime. As of summer 2026, more than 11,000 cases of environmental damage caused by russia’s aggression have been documented. The total losses exceed UAH 6.7 trillion — and these figures reflect only the damage that has been recorded. The true scale of destruction in the occupied territories remains unknown.

Today, the key challenge is not only to document these crimes but also to ensure Russia is held accountable. To draw international attention to these acts and advance legal accountability, the international event “Environmental Harm During Armed Conflict: Accountability, Investigations and International Cooperation” and the presentation of the Handbook on Prosecuting International Environmental Crimes will take place in The Hague, the Netherlands, on June 24, 2026.

The event is organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands in partnership with UAnimals, Climate Counsel, IDLO, and UCLA’s Promise Institute (Europe) as part of the international advocacy campaign #StopEcocideUkraine.

What is the event about?

The event will bring together representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ukrainian prosecutors, investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), diplomats, academics, and human rights advocates.

The main goal of the discussion is to foster international dialogue and encourage the global legal community to recognize russia’s actions as acts of ecocide, while developing practical legal mechanisms to hold the aggressor accountable.

The program is built around three key panels:

1. The Kakhovka HPP Case. A practical discussion on the challenges of collecting evidence, documenting the consequences of the dam’s destruction, and legally qualifying the crime as an act of ecocide.
2. Presentation of the “Handbook on Prosecuting International Environmental Crimes”. The official launch of a unique methodology developed by Climate Counsel and the Promise Institute based on investigative practices in Ukraine. The handbook is intended to become a global reference tool for investigating environmental war crimes.
3. Pathways to Justice. A discussion on the ICC Office of the Prosecutor’s new policy framework for addressing environmental harm under the Rome Statute, as well as other potential mechanisms for ensuring accountability.

Among the speakers are Ambassador of Ukraine to the Netherlands Andrii Kostin, representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, international law expert Natalia Hendel, Member of Parliament and environmental advocate Yuliia Ovchynnykova, Executive Director of the Register of Damage Markiian Kliuchkovskyi, a representative of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, as well as leading international legal experts.

Event Program

09:00–09:30 — Participant registration and welcome coffee.

09:30–10:00 — Opening remarks by Ambassador of Ukraine to the Netherlands Andrii Kostin, as well as representatives of IDLO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

10:00–11:00 — Panel 1: The Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. A discussion on the progress of investigations into the dam’s destruction, challenges in collecting evidence, and pathways to holding Russia accountable.

11:00–12:00 — Panel 2: Lessons from Ukraine. Official presentation of the Handbook on Prosecuting International Environmental Crimes, developed based on Ukraine’s investigative experience.

12:00–12:30 — Coffee break.

12:30–13:30 — Panel 3: Advancing International Approaches to Accountability. A discussion with representatives of the ICC and the Register of Damage on mechanisms for reparations and compensation for environmental harm.

13:30–13:45 — Closing remarks.

The full event program is available via the link.

How to join and support the event?

The event will take place in person in The Hague. Activists, diplomats, media representatives, and other relevant stakeholders based in the Netherlands are invited to join the event on-site. Registration is required for in-person participation.

To experts, activists, and members of the public around the world, we are also organizing an online livestream.

To attend in person or receive access to the livestream, please complete the registration form available via this link.

We also encourage everyone to support the event by spreading the word. Share the announcement on social media using the hashtag #StopEcocideUkraine and tell your international colleagues and friends about the environmental terror russia is inflicting on Ukraine.

The world must recognize ecocide as a crime and create a legal precedent that protects nature for future generations.

Photo: AP Photo / Libkos