Global Rights Compliance (GRC), with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has organised the first Mock War Crimes Trial in Ukraine. This practice-based event brought together key stakeholders from the Ukrainian criminal legal system – including investigators, prosecutors, defence attorneys, and judges – to engage in a realistic, simulated war crimes trial. The case was based on torture and sexual violence in a detention centre, with the victim being a Ukrainian Prisoner of War (POW).
The trial was structured over three days, simulating the full process of a war crimes trial, from pre-trial investigations to in-court examinations.
Participants engaged in intensive, practice-based sessions, including:
- Interviewing a victim using the PEACE Model and international best practices.
- Arguing for and against protective measures for the victim’s in-court testimony.
- Prosecution and defence examination of both the victim and a forensic medical expert, analysing the role of forensic evidence in war crimes cases.
This structure allowed participants to test their legal knowledge, enhance their advocacy skills, and exchange insights on war crimes litigation.
“This is a valuable opportunity to once again put our skills to the test and reinforce our knowledge through practical application. Handling cases related to conflict-related sexual violence is particularly important, as they are highly complex and require a specialised, survivor-centred approach and trauma-informed practices.” – Oleksiy Khomenko, Acting Prosecutor General.
“The UK continues to stand with Ukraine, side-by-side, including on holding Russia to account for its illegal actions. There can be no lasting peace without accountability, and the UK will continue to support Ukraine as it pursues justice for the victims and survivors of these crimes. Without accountability and justice, prevention of future war crimes is futile.” – Charlotte Surun, the Charge d’affaires at the UK Embassy in Ukraine.
The scale and complexity of war crimes cases in Ukraine are unprecedented, requiring specialised training for legal professionals.
“Ukraine faces an overwhelming number of war crimes cases, including instances of sexual violence in detention centres, with the victims being prisoners of war and civilians. It is critically important especially now that as many countries as possible demonstrate their support for Ukraine in the investigation of war crimes. Justice must be served. We deeply value the support the United Kingdom continues to provide to Ukraine.” – Wayne Jordash KC, President of GRC.
This first mock trial will lead to the beginning of a broader effort to strengthen war crimes prosecution in Ukraine. Future mock trials will cover additional topics, providing targeted training on other atrocity crimes and legal challenges.
“All the participants showed a high level of professionalism and were enthusiastic about the exercise, with many expressing interest in subsequent mock trial events. We believe offering a platform like this one will enable investigators, prosecutors, defence lawyers, and judges to continue practicing and improving their war crimes-related litigation skills,” added Donna Cline, a Team Lead with GRC.
The Mock Trial was made possible with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This event is part of a broader initiative undertaken by GRC’s Mobile Justice Teams (MJTs) in Ukraine. MJTs form part of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) — a multilateral initiative established by the United Kingdom, European Union and the United States to support and assist Ukrainian prosecutors and law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting international crimes committed during the full-scale war.