The joint investigation team (JIT) established at Eurojust to investigate core international crimes committed in Ukraine has had its mandate extended by two years. Authorities from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine, together with partners Eurojust, Europol and the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC-OTP), will now place additional focus on the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children and their deportation to Russia and Belarus. These collaborative efforts have been key to national investigations and have already led to a trial in Ukraine and the identification of suspects in Lithuania.
The JIT was set up in 2022 shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion and now consists of Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Slovakian and Ukrainian authorities, with the participation of Eurojust, Europol and the ICC-OTP. Since the start of the JIT, various core international crimes have been investigated, including the crime of genocide and crimes committed at detention sites. Thanks to the JIT’s flexible framework, authorities have been able to respond quickly to emerging crimes, coming together to exchange information and share best practices.
Judicial cooperation through the JIT has already proven to be essential for the prosecution of these crimes:
- In Ukraine, a trial in absentia is ongoing concerning a Russian combatant. He is suspected of ill-treating civilians, including illegally detaining and beating people in the village of Mylove. Ukrainian authorities worked together with their Polish counterparts to interview one of the witnesses residing in Poland.
- In Lithuania, authorities have identified four people suspected of illegally depriving Ukrainian and Lithuanian citizens of their freedom and torturing them at Melitopol airport. In October 2025, one of the suspects, a Russian soldier and prisoner of war in Ukraine, was extradited to Lithuania.
- Additionally, Lithuanian authorities notified the suspicion of three for the killing of a Lithuanian film director in Mariupol.
The four-year collaboration has culminated in a trusted platform for prosecutors and investigators to work together towards a greater goal. Following the initial results and the continued drive to investigate these crimes, the JIT has now been extended for a further two years. The JIT will deepen its cooperation and put extra focus on investigating the illegal transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Belarus.
The following authorities are members of the joint investigation team:
- Estonia: Office of the Prosecutor General; Internal Security Service
- Latvia: Prosecutor General’s Office; State Security Service
- Lithuania: Prosecutor General’s Office; Criminal Police Bureau
- Poland: Prosecutor General’s Office
- Romania: Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice - Military Prosecution Service
- Slovakia: Prosecutor General’s Office of the Slovak Republic
- Ukraine: Prosecutor General’s Office; Security Service of Ukraine; National Police of Ukraine
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union