More than three years have passed since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and it has been ten years since the annexation of Crimea. To date, Russia’s capacity to sustain the armed conflict is largely maintained through the exporting of fossil fuels and international trade.

Hence, Russia’s invasion also created unprecedented scrutiny on the roles and responsibilities of businesses in the conflict. This is the backdrop for a panel discussion critically exploring how the Russian war on Ukraine has transformed the business and human rights landscape, which is co-organised by the Asser Institute and the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence on Corporate Sustainability and Human Rights of Wageningen ­University. The discussion will focus on how wartime circumstances have influenced corporate human rights practices and what ‘responsible business conduct’’ means during (and after) Russia’s invasion. Thus, it will touch upon the issue of corporate complicity of companies operating in or with ties to Russia.

As Ukraine will hopefully move toward eventual recovery, there is also a need to envisage the role of businesses in this process, as the private sector is expected to play a key role in post-war reconstruction. This involvement will need to be grounded in international human rights standards, conflict-sensitive practices, and forward-looking policies, which are set to shape Ukraine’s long-term development path. Moreover, questions will also be raised on the role of businesses from a transitional justice mechanisms point of view, including with regard to accountability, reparations, etc. The event will explore 3 key themes, including:

1. The application of the UNGPs, heightened due diligence, and responsible business conduct in conflict settings; 2. Legal and moral questions of corporate complicity and the risks of maintaining or exiting operations in a complex environment (aggressor state); 3. The role of businesses in transitional justice and post-war reconstruction, and integrating business and human rights into Ukraine’s recovery.

By drawing on both academic insights and real-world experiences, the event seeks to identify challenges, best practices, and normative developments relevant to corporate accountability during and after conflict.