Making Russia Pay – International Accountability Pathways to Justice discussed at Ukraine House Panel

“Justice is a prerequisite for peace.”

Opening the event, Nataliia Popovych, Chairperson of Ukraine House in Denmark, underlined Ukraine’s growing concern:

“In the current global discussions about ceasefires in the Russian-Ukrainian war, it is becoming more difficult to hear the voice of Ukraine that sees justice as a prerequisite for any lasting peace.”

Jonas Parello-Plesner reinforced the importance of keeping Ukraine front and center—not only geopolitically but culturally and morally:

“What is important about Ukraine House is that you put Ukraine on the map not just as a geopolitical object but as people—people that create, people that write, people that are artistic—it's about Ukraine that still thrives.”

“Economic deterrence”: Holding Russia financially accountable

With over $524 billion in damages since 2022—and more than $1 trillion since 2014—Ukraine’s losses mark the largest postwar devastation since WWII, Julia Kyrpa explained:

“Russia has killed more than 12,000 civilians and wounded more than 30,000. Official records show over 65,000 soldiers killed and 380,000 wounded. More than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been unlawfully deported to Russia.”

The strategy is clear: justice that punishes aggression and deters future wars.

“If Ukraine and its partners make Russia accountable and actually pay for everything they’ve destroyed, that also serves as deterrence—for them, and for any other power considering similar aggression,” noted Jonas Parello-Plesner.

A first in legal history: Justice without Russia’s consent

The Register of Damage is the first international legal mechanism to pursue reparations without an aggressor's approval. In just two years, Ukraine—backed by the UN General Assembly—has created a fully operational system:

“When we started in 2022, everyone told us this was impossible. But in just two years, we created a fully operational international mechanism,” said Julia Kyrpa.

Today, 43 countries, including Denmark, the EU, the US, Canada, and Japan, are already supporting the register. Over 25,000 claims have been filed; hundreds of thousands more are expected by the end of 2025.

Ukrainians can now file claims in 15 minutes via the DIA platform, with data securely replicated in Europe for future international proceedings:

“The evidence database is replicated in Europe and will be used for the purposes of international evidence.”

Recognition is power—even before reparations begin

Although direct reparations are still pending, the act of recognition—through the international register or Ukraine’s national “eRecovery” system—is already reshaping narratives:

“No money can bring back loved ones. But recognizing a person as a victim of Russian aggression is justice in itself.”

The Ukrainian government currently offers €30,000 in housing compensation per victim, a symbolic but necessary step until larger international reparations are unlocked.

Accountability is not just for Ukraine—it’s for the world

The discussion closed with a powerful reminder of what’s really at stake:

“Persons who lost their loved ones, people who got wounded and people who suffered mental pain and anguish because of tortures, forced labor, sexual violence, deprivation of liberty and other matters—they are victims of the aggression and they are entitled to financial compensation. However, the recognition of this fact is more important than the compensation as such because no physical compensation and monetary compensation will suffice [the pain]. The victims of Russian aggressions say that first of all they need international recognition of the violation of their rights, they need understanding that crimes which Russia created will not remain unpunished.”

What you can do:

1. Governments: Join or fund the Register of Damage for Ukraine. Recognition today builds legal precedent for tomorrow.

2. Civil society & diaspora: Help victims file claims via DIA and raise awareness of this historic legal instrument.

3. Donors & partners: Invest in justice infrastructure—legal systems, digital platforms, and advocacy that make accountability work.

4. Media & influencers: Reframe the conversation—not around ceasefire optics, but on the moral and legal terms of peace.

Justice for Ukraine is Justice for the World

This is no longer just about Ukraine. It’s about whether international law matters. Whether the aggressor pays. And whether democracies can move beyond sympathy—toward systems that deliver justice.

Ukraine House in Denmark thanks the Alliance of Democracies Foundation and all those working to ensure justice is not postponed, and accountability is not optional.