Ukraine’s Fight for Justice: How to Stop Russian Atrocities in 2025

Ukraine’s Fight for Justice: How to Stop Russian Atrocities in 2025

MOHAN KHOUND

In the heart of Ukraine, a brutal war rages with chilling precision.

As Nataliia Iarmoshchuk starkly notes, it takes just 42 seconds for Russian forces to strike a residential building, hospital, or school in Kharkiv. In those fleeting moments, there’s no time for children to hide or families to find safety—only the grim reality that in 42 seconds, lives may be lost.

This is the harrowing truth of Russia’s deliberate assault on Ukrainian civilians since its full-scale invasion in 2022, a campaign marked by targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure, torture, abductions, rape, and the forced removal of Ukrainian children to Russia, where they are stripped of their identity and raised as Russians.

Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and Chairwoman of the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), has been a beacon of hope amid this darkness. Awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, Matviichuk has tirelessly advocated for justice and a democratic transition in Ukraine.

Her voice reveals a stark reality: the international system of peace and security is failing to stop Russian atrocities. As she asserts, this is not just a conflict between two nations but a war between authoritarianism and democracy—a battle with global implications.

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Russia’s actions are a calculated assault on humanity. Humanitarian corridors are blocked, civilians in occupied territories face abductions, rape, and murder, and an army Matviichuk describes as “rapists and murderers who kidnap children and steal washing machines” operates with impunity. The horrors of Bucha, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odesa underscore the urgency of action.

On May 9, 2025, as the world marked Europe Day, Matviichuk highlighted the irony: while many remembered World War II victims with the promise of “never again,” Russians paraded on Red Square in Moscow with the chilling slogan “we can repeat.”

She draws haunting parallels—Ukraine lost eight million lives in World War II, with six million fighting in the Red Army and hundreds of thousands in resistance movements. Their sacrifice helped defeat Nazism, yet today, Ukraine again pays the ultimate price for freedom, facing a Russia whose imperial ambitions mirror the Nazi Third Reich’s ideology that some nations deserve to exist while others do not. Matviichuk’s conviction is unshakable: “Ukrainians defeated Nazism, and Russian imperial ambitions will be defeated as well.”

A significant step toward justice was announced on May 9, 2025, when representatives from around 40 countries endorsed a special tribunal on the crime of aggression within the Council of Europe—a “Tribunal for Putin,” which Matviichuk has championed since May 2022. This initiative aims to hold Vladimir Putin and his inner circle accountable for over 84,000 documented war crimes.

Ukrainian civil organizations have tirelessly advocated for this, amplifying the state’s efforts. Matviichuk’s vision is clear: “Justice should not be the exclusive privilege of the winners. We live in a new century, and we don’t have to wait for how and when the war will end.” However, challenges persist. She warns, “The longer Europe hesitates, the greater the risk that Russia will succeed in lifting sanctions.”

With the next sanctions extension due in July 2025, Hungary’s potential veto looms large. Matviichuk calls for the EU to transfer $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, forcing Russia to pay for the devastation—a step toward justice that demands consistency, with no compromises, no retreat, and no mercy for impunity.
Sanctions remain one of the few tools capable of weakening Russia’s war machine, yet Russia seeks to evade accountability by pushing to lead sanctions efforts while continuing its attacks.

Ukraine’s right to self-defense is non-negotiable. The country urgently needs permission to strike back at Russian military airfields launching the missiles, drones, and planes that devastate civilian life. Matviichuk calls current restrictions “absurd,” undermining Ukraine’s legitimate right to protect its people. Supporting Ukraine’s defense is not just a military necessity but a moral imperative.

Recent developments highlight the international community’s response. In March 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued additional arrest warrants for Russian officials linked to war crimes in Ukraine, building on earlier warrants issued in 2023 for Putin and others involved in child abductions. The UN has also documented extensive violations, with a 2024 report noting over 10,000 civilian deaths and widespread use of torture in detention centers. These findings reinforce the need for accountability and support for Ukraine’s fight.

Beyond the battlefield, Matviichuk urges a shift in global thinking, particularly in established democracies where freedom, rule of law, and human rights are often taken for granted. In an interconnected world, the erosion of democracy anywhere threatens stability everywhere.

The business community, international organizations, and individuals must show leadership, courage, and historical responsibility, challenging regulations that hinder the mission to save lives. Freedom and human solidarity transcend borders—values that must guide our actions in times of crisis.

Amid the failure of international systems, ordinary Ukrainians have become the true heroes. From rescuing civilians in ruined cities to breaking encirclements to deliver aid, they demonstrate courage, resilience, and solidarity. These acts remind us that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can prevail.

Matviichuk’s vision for the 21st century is unwavering: we must restore international order and ensure justice for all victims of this war, regardless of their social status or the crimes they endured. History will remember those who stood with Ukraine—and those who enabled Russia’s actions, sharing responsibility for the blood spilled.

The fight for Ukraine is a fight for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Authoritarian regimes may cooperate to undermine these values, but those who believe in freedom must unite even more strongly.

As Ukraine stands on the frontlines of this global struggle, the world must heed Matviichuk’s call: support Ukraine with weapons, sanctions, and solidarity. Only through collective action can we stop Russian atrocities, defeat its imperial ambitions, and build a safer, freer world for all. The time for action is now—May 13, 2025, cannot mark another day of hesitation.

14-05-2025

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