Mariupol Justice presented in Brussels as the first international model for restoring justice to a war-affected Ukrainian city

A series of international events dedicated to the tragedy of Mariupol, the documentation of Russian crimes, and the development of international accountability and compensation mechanisms for affected Ukrainians took place at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. At the center of all discussions was the Mariupol Justice initiative - a global human rights project that combines evidence collection, witness testimony, international advocacy, and the preparation of legal foundations for future judicial and compensation proceedings.

The central event was the special discussion “The European Municipal Dimension of Accountability: the Mariupol Justice Initiative,” organized by the Mariupol City Military Administration with the support of Member of the European Parliament Dainius Žalimas. During the discussion, participants called for the destruction of Mariupol to be internationally recognized and legally qualified as a deliberate crime against humanity.

One of the most powerful moments of the event was the testimony of Andrii Servetnyk, chief physician of Mariupol Hospital No. 4, who remained in the city during the siege in the spring of 2022. He described how the hospital continued functioning after losing access to water, electricity, and heating; performing surgeries under constant shelling; facing critical shortages of medical supplies; and being unable to evacuate the wounded.

“When the city was encircled, we became the only multidisciplinary hospital still operating on the Left Bank of Mariupol. Doctors worked nonstop, without rest, risking their lives every day. At times, we were performing 30 to 40 surgeries within 24 hours. Most patients arrived with blast and shrapnel injuries. The Russians spared no one — they systematically shelled the city and killed its residents. We had to place bodies outside the emergency department. When we were eventually forced to evacuate, Russian soldiers removed the bodies of dead Mariupol residents and buried them in a mass grave. Many of them were children,” said Andrii Servetnyk, chief physician of Mariupol Hospital No. 4.

Thousands of stories like the testimony of Andrii Servetnyk remain today the only source of information about those killed in Mariupol, burial sites, and the circumstances of people’s deaths. They form the very foundation of the Mariupol Justice initiative. Presenting the project, Vadym Boichenko, Head of the Mariupol City Military Administration and Mayor of Mariupol, stressed that Mariupol is now helping build the foundation for future international justice.

“Our goal is very simple, though the path is extraordinarily difficult: to have the tragedy that happened in Mariupol — and continues today in Ukrainian cities across the Donetsk region — recognized as a deliberate crime against humanity. Today, Mariupol is leading the effort to build the foundation for future justice through the Register of Damage (the International Register of Damage for Ukraine, RD4U). It is crucial that the decisions already taken on establishing a special tribunal become operational this year. Russia must be held accountable for its crimes before an international tribunal,” said Vadym Boichenko, Head of the Mariupol City Military Administration and Mayor of Mariupol.

According to the project’s findings, Russian attacks destroyed 929 apartment buildings and more than 6,400 private homes in Mariupol. Based on the World Bank’s DLA damage assessment methodology, the estimated civilian death toll stands at around 22,000 people, while 12,500 deaths have already been officially verified through testimonies provided by Mariupol residents. The Mariupol Justice team has also analyzed more than 114,000 объектов and built one of the most extensive databases documenting the consequences of the siege of Mariupol.

Member of the European Parliament Dainius Žalimas stressed that the work carried out within Mariupol Justice is already becoming part of the international justice system today.

“The work being carried out within this initiative — documenting crimes, supporting victims, and preserving memory — is directly connected to the ongoing investigation of the International Criminal Court. There is no doubt that what happened constitutes a crime against humanity that must be properly investigated,” said Dainius Žalimas, Member of the European Parliament (Renew Europe).

During the event at the European Parliament, a video about the tragedy of the Mariupol Drama Theatre was also presented. Based on eyewitness testimonies from the airstrike of 16 March 2022, the film exposes Russian propaganda attempts to conceal the crime through the staged “restoration” of the theatre, where more than 600 civilians were killed.

A separate series of meetings in Brussels focused on cooperation with the international human rights community. Vadym Boichenko and the Mariupol Justice team met with representatives of Human Rights Watch, IPHR, HRDN, FIDH, La Strada International, and other international organizations. Discussions centered on documenting Russian crimes, working with witnesses, and advancing accountability mechanisms.

“We have a responsibility to continue documenting crimes and exposing what is happening in the occupied territories of Ukraine in a way that can be used within future justice mechanisms. This kind of cooperation is extremely valuable for us,” said Iskra Kirova, Advocacy Director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch.

During the visit to Europe, Vadym Boichenko, Head of the Mariupol City Military Administration and Mayor of Mariupol, also met with Andriy Kostin, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The parties discussed the implementation of projects in the context of the work of the International Criminal Court and the future special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

A key focus throughout the international discussions was the creation of a global accountability architecture. Loránt Havas, Head of the EU External Relations Law and Public International Law Division at the European External Action Service, stated that the European Union is already actively involved in establishing a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

“What is at stake is trust in international law itself. We are witnessing the reality of this war — a war of aggression that violates every fundamental norm of international law. That is precisely why we are actively involved in establishing a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” said Loránt Havas, Head of the EU External Relations Law and Public International Law Division at the European External Action Service.

Particular attention during the discussions was also given to the development of an international compensation mechanism and the Register of Damage for Ukraine.

“Compensation is central to justice. It acknowledges the harm that has been done, affirms people’s rights, and creates a pathway toward recovery. Today, the international community together with Ukraine is building a system that includes the Register of Damage, a future compensation commission, and a compensation fund,” said Sandra Lingdorf, Deputy Executive Director of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Vadym Boichenko also presented the tragedy of Mariupol and the approaches used to document Russian crimes during a meeting of the International Network of Cities of Memory — an alliance of cities that have experienced war, массове destruction, and humanitarian catastrophes, including Dunkirk, Gdańsk, and Coventry.

“Today, we are in Brussels so that the world can hear the truth about Mariupol — a city that Russia turned into one of the greatest tragedies since the Second World War and one of the gravest war crimes of the 21st century,” Vadym Boichenko said.

According to participants of the international meetings, the experience of Mariupol is already shaping global approaches to documenting atrocities, working with witnesses, developing compensation mechanisms, and restoring justice for affected communities.

Background

Mariupol Justice is an international human rights initiative launched by the Mariupol City Military Administration to document crimes, record destruction, and restore justice for the people of Mariupol affected by Russian aggression. The initiative combines legal, social, and memorial work, serving both as a practical accountability mechanism and as a cultural and historical platform. Its core mission is to secure international recognition of the Mariupol tragedy and restore justice for thousands of Mariupol families.