Explainer; Hague Center of investigation of Russia invasion in Ukraine
An international center to investigate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is expected to open in The Hague on Monday.
Senior officials are expected to hold a press conference at the headquarters of Eurojust, the EU’s judicial agency, at 11:15 am local time (0915 UTC).
The International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA) includes prosecutors from Ukraine, the European Union and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

What else do we know about the facility?
The United States, which is not a member of the ICC, will also participate in the newly opened facility.
Among those involved are Ukraine’s Attorney General Andriy Kostin, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, US Deputy Attorney General Kenneth Polite and EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, Eurojust said.
The EU said the center had the “ultimate goal of prosecuting those responsible for the invasion” of Ukraine.
The center is supposed to collect evidence and prepare charges against Kremlin officials. Eurojust has already opened a central database for evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Kyiv wants prosecution for the invasion
The ICC previously opened an investigation into the alleged deportation of children in Moscow, but does not have jurisdiction to investigate more serious crimes of aggression. The court issued an international arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin due to the allegations.
The Ukrainian government has called for the creation of a special war crimes court after hundreds of bodies were discovered in the city of Bucha in central Ukraine in April 2022.
In April 2023, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte to discuss establishing a court to prosecute Moscow.