A U.S. funding freeze has disrupted key international efforts to investigate alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine, halting critical support for Ukrainian prosecutors and non-governmental organizations involved in gathering evidence. The pause in foreign assistance has affected six U.S.-funded projects worth $89 million, directly impacting war crimes investigations and anti-corruption initiatives, according to sources and a Ukrainian government document reviewed by Reuters.

Experts and officials warn that these cuts could undermine efforts to document atrocities committed by the Russian military since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an offensive that has resulted in over 140,000 war crime cases, which Russia denies. The freeze has already led to the suspension of work by nearly 40 legal experts supporting Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, including projects related to battlefield evidence preservation and victim support.

Experts and NGOs Express Concern Over Cuts

The funding halt has drawn strong reactions from legal experts, NGOs, and Ukrainian officials. One source involved in providing legal support to Ukraine stated that many partners have “no more money to pay their staff,” forcing some experts to stop working altogether. Oleksandr Pavlichenko of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, whose organization lost 75% of its annual budget due to the freeze, said they are now seeking alternative funding sources.

Another Ukrainian organization assisting in collecting war crime evidence and training legal professionals also had to scale back operations. If no new funding is secured, additional staff layoffs are expected within three months. A source from a Ukrainian advocacy group that specializes in war crimes documentation said the community is in “shock” over the sudden funding pause.

The Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine (ACA), an initiative led by the U.S., EU, and UK, has also been affected. While ACA has helped provide over 150 experts to support Ukrainian prosecutors, its U.S.-funded contributions are now at risk. The White House, State Department, and Ukraine’s prosecutor’s office have yet to comment on the situation.

Impact on Justice and Accountability

The freeze in financial support comes at a crucial time when Ukraine is trying to build a strong legal foundation to hold Russian forces accountable. While the funding does not directly impact Ukraine’s military efforts, it weakens the country’s ability to comprehensively document and prosecute war crimes in Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Experts argue that failure to maintain momentum in these investigations could embolden perpetrators and weaken international justice mechanisms.

Leonid Sapelnikov, Deputy Head of Ukraine’s State Judicial Administration, noted that the freeze has delayed the launch of an American-funded case management system, which would aim to modernize Ukraine’s judiciary and would be essential for the country’s EU accession efforts. Cleaning up and strengthening Ukraine’s legal system has been a core part of Western support, but without funding, such reforms face setbacks.

Background: A History of U.S. Support

Since the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the U.S. has been a key backer of Ukraine’s war crimes investigations, largely through USAID, the State Department, and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. These initiatives have included everything from training Ukrainian prosecutors to providing forensic experts capable of handling mass graves and battlefield evidence.

For example, a U.S.-funded 800-page war crimes handbook helped Ukrainian judges navigate war crime trials for the first time. Foreign legal experts, many with experience in conflicts such as the Balkans and Syria, have also played a significant role in guiding Ukraine’s legal response to Russian aggression.

Despite the general concern over the White House’s decision, some Ukrainian officials downplayed the impact of the cuts, arguing that their country has built a self-sufficient legal infrastructure over the past two years. Yevhen Krapyvin of the Centre for Policy and Legal Reform stated, “Right now, this system is more or less stable. Of course, you always want more support, but the foundation has been built.”

The Future of War Crimes Investigations

The funding freeze raises serious questions about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine’s legal battle against Russian war crimes. If additional financing is not secured, international legal efforts to hold Russia accountable could be significantly weakened. Some experts fear that this loss of U.S. leadership could damage credibility in global human rights enforcement.

As Ukraine pushes forward with investigations and prosecutions, its partners in Europe and other Western nations may need to fill the funding gap. However, with the war entering its third year, the challenge of ensuring justice for the victims remains as pressing as ever.