Martial Law & War Crimes

Ilyashev & Partners has one of the strongest and most comprehensive war crimes, military law and war damage recovery practices in Ukraine. The firm represents Ukrainian and international companies, investors, military personnel, their family members, international organisations and private individuals in matters arising from armed aggression, martial law, mobilisation, war crimes and compensation for war-related losses.

Since 2014, and particularly following the full-scale invasion in 2022, the team has been at the forefront of developing Ukraine’s war damage recovery practice. The firm designs comprehensive asset protection and recovery strategies, combining litigation in Ukraine, international protection mechanisms, cross-border judgment enforcement and insolvency tools to safeguard creditors and businesses’ interests. The practice handles matters worth USD 1.5 billion.

The practice provides end-to-end support in war damage claims, from documenting destruction, collecting evidence and assessing losses to representing clients before the Ukrainian courts, the European Court of Human Rights and supporting the recognition and enforcement of judgments in foreign jurisdictions. The team represents clients in matters involving the loss of industrial enterprises, agricultural assets, maritime and port infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, real estate and other property damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities or occupation.

The team has substantial experience representing military personnel, their families, international humanitarian organisations and employers in matters related to mobilisation, employee reservation (deferment from mobilisation), military registration, military service, discharge from military service, obtaining the status of missing persons, establishing the fact of death of military personnel and securing state financial assistance and benefits.

The firm is also actively involved in criminal proceedings related to military service and martial law, including cases concerning offences against the established procedure of military service, violations of military equipment operation rules, official negligence, abuse of authority or official powers by military officers, mobilisation-related matters and allegations of obstructing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A separate area of the practice focuses on legal support for military command and leadership of individual units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in implementing new management and organisational approaches during wartime. The firm’s lawyers advise on legal aspects of military procurement, resource management, internal procedures, liability of officials and the implementation of innovative and pilot solutions within the military service framework.