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Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and
Girls, visits Ukraine to
address the United for Justice Conference, underlining the
UK's commitment to holding Russia to account for crimes
committed throughout the war
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Minister also made “harrowing but essential” visit to Bucha
and Irpin, towns that saw civilian suffering at the start of
the war
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In line with the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, the UK is
also seeking Ukrainian expertise to turbocharge counter-drone
technology development
“Russia must be held to account for its crimes”, the Minister for
Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls stressed on
a visit to Kyiv yesterday [Thursday 7 May]. She was in the city
to address the United for Justice Conference, an event aiming to
coordinate global efforts to investigate, prosecute, and ensure
accountability for international crimes committed during Russia's
full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In Kyiv, the Minister also met with frontline organisations
directly supporting survivors of sexual violence, which Russia
has used as a weapon of war. The visit also furthers the
government's commitment, under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year
Partnership, to support Ukraine in the reform and recovery of its
justice system.
Addressing the conference, Minister Davies-Jones expressed the UK
Government's “unwavering” commitment to supporting the Ukrainian
people in securing justice and accountability. The UK is
supporting Ukraine politically, financially, and practically,
including with £16.5 million in funding for domestic war crimes
investigations, providing Ukraine with the skills and expertise
it needs to drive this action forward.
While in Ukraine, Minister also visited the towns
of Bucha and Irpin, defining sites of civilian suffering caused
in the early stages of Russia's full-scale invasion and during
Russian occupation. Russian forces occupied Bucha until early
April 2022, during which widespread war crimes including conflict
related sexual violence were reported. The Minister visited the
memorial at the town's mass grave site, which pays tribute to the
Ukrainians who were killed during the occupation.
Irpin became one of the heaviest-hit areas during Russia's early
invasion of Ukraine and was a front-line battlefield in February
2022. The Minister visited the “Bridge of Life” in Irpin, which
was exploded by the Ukrainian armed forces to prevent Russian
troops and tanks from entering Kyiv city. The remnants of that
bridge were the only route through which Ukrainians could seek
evacuation and leave Russian occupation, and many Ukrainians were
killed trying to make their way there.
Reflecting on the visit, Minister Davies-Jones said:
While here in Ukraine I've heard powerful testimonies from
survivors and seen the harrowing evidence of war crimes
firsthand. Working daily with survivors of violence at home, I
know that behind every statistic is a person whose life has been
changed forever. > The courage it takes to speak out, to
bear witness and to demand justice is something I deeply commend.
Ukraine is still living under daily attack, and the UK stands
firmly with its people in that same pursuit of the justice,
accountability and freedom they deserve. Russia must be held to
account for its crimes.”
The Minister also reflected on the expertise Ukraine has to share
with the UK, forged through the experiences of government under
the pressures of the full-scale invasion. The Minister announced
the opening of a new competition worth £5m by InnovateUK,
an initiative that will accelerate counter-drone research
in the UK, with a hope to encourage further technological
partnerships between our nations.
The visit follows the Deputy Prime Minister's trip to Ukraine to
mark the first anniversary of 100 Year Partnership between the UK
and Ukraine in January this year. Whilst there, he announced £6.5
million investment to support research and development on
stopping drones smuggling contraband into prisons - including
phones, drugs and weapons.
