Ukraine Unifies CRSV Investigation Protocols Across Three Key Agencies
- Joint instruction signed by Prosecutor General, SBU, and Interior Ministry on 5 October 2026.
- Protocol development began in 2023 with UK Embassy support.
- New rules prioritise survivor informed consent and risk assessment.
- Specialised training for investigators mandated by the new framework.
- Synergy for Justice and Global Rights Compliance provided technical expertise.
On Monday, 5 October 2026, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the Ministry of Internal Affairs formally signed a joint instruction to standardise how conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is investigated. This move aims to ensure that evidence collection and survivor protection are consistent across all agencies involved in the ongoing conflict.
By establishing a unified rulebook, the Ukrainian government seeks to address long-standing challenges in documenting sensitive war crimes, ensuring that cases are not lost in bureaucratic friction between agencies. The signing event in Kyiv marked the culmination of years of work to bridge the gap between initial police response and final prosecution.
Officials said the instruction provides a clear roadmap for investigators, who often face the dual pressure of gathering evidence in active war zones while managing the delicate needs of survivors.
The document covers everything from the initial reporting phase to the final submission of evidence to the courts.
- The instruction mandates specific, trauma-informed procedures for all investigators.
- It requires risk assessments to be conducted for every survivor before any procedural action occurs.
- It establishes a requirement for informed consent, ensuring survivors maintain control over their participation in the legal process.
The necessity for this unified approach became clear as the scale of the conflict grew.
Previously, different agencies often operated under varying internal guidelines, which created inconsistencies in how evidence was handled and how survivors were treated.
This new instruction removes that ambiguity, providing a singular standard that all three major agencies must now follow.
It is a significant shift in how the state manages the most sensitive category of war crimes.
Two Years of Development Supported by British Embassy Expertise
The path to this unified instruction began in 2023, driven by a need to align Ukrainian investigative practices with international standards.
The project was developed with the support of the British Embassy in Ukraine as part of the broader Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI).
Sir Neil Crompton, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine, attended the signing ceremony, highlighting the international interest in the efficacy of Ukraine's judicial response.
Technical expertise was provided by organisations including Synergy for Justice and Global Rights Compliance, both of which have been working closely with Ukrainian authorities to refine legal frameworks.
These groups helped translate international best practices into the specific legal and operational context of Ukraine's current security environment.
The development process involved extensive consultation with prosecutors, police investigators, and security service agents to ensure the new rules were not just theoretically sound, but practically applicable on the ground.
Experts said the collaboration was essential for creating a document that respects the rights of the victim while ensuring that evidence remains admissible in court.
The involvement of international partners also ensures that the protocols align with the standards expected by international courts, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This alignment is vital, as it allows for the potential transfer of cases or evidence between national and international jurisdictions without compromising the integrity of the investigation.
The document serves as a bridge, connecting local investigative efforts with the global legal community's expectations for handling war crimes.
By embedding these standards into the daily operations of the SBU and the Interior Ministry, Ukraine is building a more resilient system for justice.
Protecting Survivors Through Informed Consent and Risk Assessment
A central pillar of the new instruction is the protection of survivors, a move that experts said is long overdue.
The new rules mandate that investigators conduct a thorough risk assessment for every survivor before any procedural action is taken.
This assessment is designed to identify potential threats to the survivor's safety or well-being, both from the perpetrators and from the secondary trauma caused by the investigation process itself.
Furthermore, the instruction formalises the requirement for informed consent.
This means that survivors must be fully aware of what their participation entails, the potential risks, and their right to withdraw at any stage of the process.
Officials said this shift in focus is intended to reduce the rate of re-traumatisation, which has historically been a significant barrier to victims coming forward.
When survivors feel that the system is designed to protect them rather than just extract information, they are more likely to provide the testimony necessary to secure convictions.
The protocol also outlines the specific rights of survivors, including access to medical and psychological support during the investigative process.
This holistic approach acknowledges that justice is not just about the verdict, but about the experience of the survivor throughout the legal journey.
By standardising these protections, the government aims to create a more supportive environment that encourages victims to report crimes that might otherwise remain hidden.
The focus on informed consent also serves to protect the integrity of the evidence, as testimony provided under duress or without full understanding is often vulnerable to challenge in court.
This is a calculated effort to ensure that the cases built by the Prosecutor General's Office are as strong as possible, standing up to the scrutiny of both national and international legal observers.
Addressing Institutional Gaps in Wartime Justice
The signing of this joint instruction addresses the institutional friction that has historically hampered investigations into sexual violence during conflict.
In the past, the division of labour between the Prosecutor General's Office, the SBU, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs meant that cases could be delayed or mishandled due to a lack of coordination.
Each agency had its own internal procedures, which often led to confusion about who was responsible for specific tasks, such as victim support or forensic evidence collection.
This new document creates a clear chain of command and responsibility, ensuring that no case falls through the cracks.
It provides a framework for how these three agencies should share information and coordinate their efforts, which is vital in a country where resources are stretched thin by the ongoing conflict.
The instruction also addresses the need for specialised training.
Investigators will now undergo mandatory training on how to handle cases of sexual violence, with a specific focus on the psychological impact of the crime.
This training is expected to be rolled out across all regions, ensuring that an investigator in a frontline city has the same level of expertise and sensitivity as one in Kyiv.
The goal is to eliminate the 'postcode lottery' of justice, where the quality of an investigation depends on the local knowledge of the assigned officer.
By standardising the training, the government is ensuring that every survivor receives the same level of care and every case is handled with the same level of rigour.
This is a significant step forward for the Ukrainian judicial system, which is currently managing an unprecedented volume of war crimes cases.
The ability to process these cases efficiently and fairly is a key part of the state's efforts to maintain the rule of law under extreme pressure.
Scaling Up Specialised Training for Investigators
The implementation of the new instruction requires a massive scaling up of specialised training for investigators across the country.
The Prosecutor General's Office, in coordination with the Interior Ministry and the SBU, is now tasked with developing a national training programme that reflects the new standards.
This programme will focus on the specific challenges of investigating crimes in a conflict zone, including the difficulty of gathering forensic evidence in areas that may still be under threat or have been heavily damaged.
Experts said that the training will also cover the legal nuances of proving sexual violence as a war crime, which requires a high threshold of evidence to meet international standards.
The training will be supported by the same international partners who helped draft the instruction, ensuring that Ukrainian investigators are equipped with the latest techniques and knowledge.
This is not a one-off event, but the start of a continuous process of professional development.
The instruction requires that all investigators involved in these cases undergo regular refresher courses, ensuring that their skills remain sharp and that they are up to date with any changes in the law or investigative best practices.
This commitment to training is a clear signal that the government views these investigations as a priority.
It also demonstrates a willingness to invest in the long-term capacity of the judicial system, rather than just reacting to the immediate needs of the conflict.
By building a cadre of highly trained investigators, Ukraine is creating a legacy of expertise that will serve the country long after the current conflict ends.
This is essential for the future of the nation, as the ability to deliver justice is a cornerstone of any post-conflict recovery process.
Next Steps for the Prosecutor General's Office
With the instruction now signed, the focus shifts to the practical implementation of these new rules in every region of Ukraine.
The Prosecutor General's Office is expected to begin the rollout of the training programme immediately, with a goal of having all relevant investigators trained by the end of the year.
The success of this initiative will be measured by the quality of investigations and the number of cases that make it to court.
Officials said they will be monitoring the implementation closely, with regular reviews to ensure that the new rules are being followed in practice.
This will involve audits of case files and feedback sessions with investigators to identify any areas where the protocol might need further refinement.
The government is also looking at how to integrate these new standards into the broader legal framework, potentially using them as a model for other types of complex crimes.
The signing of this instruction is a clear statement of intent from the Ukrainian government to hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable.
It is a message to survivors that their voices are being heard and that the state is committed to providing them with the justice they deserve.
As the conflict continues, the ability to document and prosecute these crimes will remain a critical challenge, but with this new instruction, the state is better equipped than ever to meet it.
The work ahead is significant, but the foundation has now been laid.
The next few months will be crucial as the new protocols are put into practice, and the international community will be watching closely to see how these changes translate into real-world results for survivors.