Europol Executive Director Visits Kyiv, Ukraine, May 2023

Europol's Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, was in Kyiv this week together with the Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson to reaffirm Europol's solidarity with Ukrainian authorities amidst the ongoing conflict. During her visit, Executive Director De Bolle met with ministers, parliamentarians and law enforcement partners to discuss how Europol can increase its support to Ukrainian authorities in persecuting war crimes and confronting current criminal threats.

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Whilst in Ukraine, Executive Director De Bolle met with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Chief of National Police of Ukraine Ivan Vyhivskyi to affirm Europol's commitment to Ukraine in person. The members of the EU delegation also visited conflict sites to observe investigations and evidence gathering first-hand, and met with counterparts in Ukraine's Border Guard, Immigration Service, National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the State Bureau of Investigations.

Of particular interest to the Executive Director was progress on war crimes investigations. Europol's specialised team covering this area, Analysis Project Core International Crimes, has been supporting Ukrainian authorities by providing analysis and helping coordinate intelligence. This team is enhancing its cooperation with Ukrainian authorities, as well as key partners such as Eurojust and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Executive Director also praised the excellent cooperation between Europol and Ukrainian authorities in the area of arms trafficking, with all sides determined to prevent illicit arms flows into Europe. Similarly, the Executive Director was able to pledge ongoing support to fight the trafficking of human beings, with dedicated analysts monitoring for at-risk individuals and active criminal networks in the area.

The Executive Director used the visit as an opportunity to exchange views with Ukrainian counterparts on changes in the organised crime landscape in the areas surrounding Ukraine. She also received Ukraine's proposals regarding enhancing Europol's support to criminal investigations stemming from the war. One such proposal is the deployment of a second Ukrainian Liaison Officer to Europol, specialised in cybercrime, allowing for a greater deal of collaboration and joint investigation. Europol has also provided support through training and capacity-building for Ukrainian law enforcement, covering areas such as explosive ordnances and anti-corruption measures.

Speaking upon returning to Europol HQ in the Netherlands, Executive Director De Bolle remarked:

This visit has been deeply encouraging, both in terms of our support to Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression and our relationships with Ukrainian partners in the long term. The professionalism and dedication of men and women in Ukrainian law enforcement, against such overwhelming odds, is an example to us all. I am confident in Europol's operational readiness to support our Ukrainian colleagues regarding war crimes perpetrated during this tragic war. We are fully engaged to support Ukraine law enforcement agencies on a long-term basis.

Executive Director De Bolle's visit comes soon after her participation as a panellist at the Bucha: Hallmarks of Genocide event in late March, alongside Prosecutor General of Ukraine, President of Eurojust and Prosecutor of the ICC, which commemorated one year since the liberation of the Ukrainian town and helped rally international support for the investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Bucha. Europol has also recently concluded a working arrangement with ICC that enhances the Agencies' response to core international crimes.

More information on Europol's work solidarity with the Ukrainian authorities and people can be found in the dedicated section of Europol's public website.

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  • Ukraine