The unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia during the ongoing conflict is a grave violation of international law. While attention often focuses on top-level leaders, as evidenced by the warrants of arrest issued for President Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, holding mid-level perpetrators accountable is equally crucial to delivering justice. However, this task poses significant challenges due to issues like evidence collection, chain-of-command complexities, and the allocation of prosecutorial resources.

This event, organised by the Asser Institue, will explore these challenges, alongside the critical role that accountability of mid-level perpetrators plays in the broader justice process. The limitations and opportunities of international justice mechanisms will be examined, particularly the International Criminal Court (ICC), which faces jurisdictional and logistical constraints. In addition, domestic legal avenues within Ukraine and the potential for pursuing accountability under universal jurisdiction (UJ) will be discussed. Special attention will be paid to the role of civil society in collecting, systematising, and analysing information with the potential to further justice efforts. Together, these pathways offer a multifaceted approach to confronting impunity and ensuring justice for the victims.