Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Eurojust has played a central role in supporting the international accountability efforts. Just three weeks after the invasion, Eurojust helped establish a joint investigation team (JIT), laying the groundwork for further cross-border judicial cooperation. These efforts have since expanded with the establishment of the ICPA, a unique judicial hub where prosecutors and investigators from different countries work together to support investigations into the crime of aggression, and the Core International Crimes Evidence Database (CICED) to preserve, store and analyse key evidence.

During her visit, HR/VP Kaja Kallas met with members of the ICPA, who highlighted the importance of international cooperation in tackling the complexities of the investigation and gathering evidence scattered across Europe. Eurojust President Michael Schmid also outlined the concrete results already achieved through the Agency’s support: over 13 000 evidence files from 17 countries have been submitted to the CICED, while the JIT has supported multiple national investigations in Ukraine and Lithuania. These include an investigation involving the extradition of a Russian soldier to Lithuania in connection with the suspected torture of Ukrainian and Lithuanian citizens at Melitopol airport.

The visit also highlighted Eurojust’s active role in the EU Freeze and Seize Task Force, set up by the European Commission in March 2022 to ensure the effective implementation of EU sanctions against listed Russian and Belarusian oligarchs across the European Union. Since its establishment, Eurojust has been supporting national authorities in investigating sanctions violations and facilitating the confiscation of criminal assets.

The topic of the hybrid threats, including drone-related incidents, was also discussed as a growing security concern for security across Europe. Eurojust is already providing operational support to numerous investigations into such incidents, while helping national authorities address common legal and practical challenges, including questions of jurisdiction, evidence collection and prosecution.