On October 3-4, the 10th anniversary Warsaw Security Forum took place in Warsaw. WSF is a leading European platform to discuss the issues of transatlantic cooperation which brought together 2000 participants from over 60 countries, including senior state officials and high-level representatives from different organisations. For the second year in a row, ICUV presented a separate Ukrainian component at this event, dedicated to raising awareness about the historic role of Ukrainian victory in ensuring sustainable peace in the European continent. 

Our experts participated in the main’s program panel discussions. Also, our team had an exhibition stand dedicated to Ukraine’s victory. Thanks to the support of our partners, we also facilitated participation at the WSF of the former prisoners of war, as well as a teenager who survived the occupation and suffered from the war. Our guests had opportunities to tell their stories directly to the WSF audience and raise their awareness about the everyday reality under the occupation.

Main program

ICUV co-founder Hanna Hopko took part in the discussion Secure & Prosperous: Making Post-War Ukraine happen dedicated to future reconstruction for Ukraine. She pointed out that the focus should be shifted from future reconstruction to achieving a quick victory for Ukraine.

“There are many discussions, and conferences on recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.  But I would like to see a conference on the victory of Ukraine. Everyone is talking that we should prepare for a long war. Maybe we should prepare for faster victory and then the price will be lowered? Actually, Russia will not be able every day send missiles, ballistic cruise missiles, and kamikaze drones against our civilian population and also destroy critical energy infrastructure. I think that we have to focus on victory first and security first because the level of weapons supply is not sufficient. Victory is possible when we have a military advantage, air superiority, and more air defense systems.  I fully support the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands saying that the cheapest way to defeat the Russian totalitarian regime in Ukraine is to support Ukraine”

— said Hanna

ICUV co-founder Olga Aivazovska shared her expertise in the panel discussion “Elections in the Digital Era: Opportunities and Threats”. She emphasized the inadmissibility of holding elections in Ukraine during the war and voiced the position of experts and civil society on this issue.

“Elections without freedoms are impossible. Now we have over 7 million people living abroad. It will be a huge challenge to get them involved. Because the political process has to be open, transparent, and politically competitive. That’s why elections without political competition during the war will produce just fake democracy, such as in russia. We don’t want that.” .

— shared Olga

ICUV advocacy director in energy sector Victoria Voytsitska took part in panel discussion “Future of Nuclear Potential in Europe / Energy Security and Climate”. She noticed that before starting to discuss the future of nuclear in Ukraine, we need to make sure that we have proper protection of the entire Ukrainian territory from any possible attacks in different ways from Russia.

“I think the most important part is the security of our nuclear, existing nuclear power plants. And not just ZNPP that everyone is aware of. Absolutely unprecedented attack and it’s the nuclear terrorism that we’re dealing with when we look at what Russia is doing right now with nuclear power plant. But most importantly, the cynical strategy that Russia is deploying right now in Ukraine. They’re targeting parts of the grid that provides the security and safety of nuclear power plants that are still up and running and that, we are, very much dependent on. We were very close, and miraculously managed to avoid some nuclear disasters that could be comparable to the Three Mile Island accident.”

— said Victoria.

ICUV component at WSF “Advocating for Ukrainian Victory”

I panel: Achieving Criminal Accountability for Russia’s Aggression against Ukraine

Speakers at the discussion were Olga Aivazovska, ICUV co-founder, Alma Zadić, Federal Minister of Justice,Austria, Mieczyslav Boduszyński,  Policy Advisor on Accountability of War Crimes, Office of U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (2022-2023), Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust. The panel was moderated by Kateryna Riabiko, Deputy Director of the OSCE-ODIHR (2020-2023).

“I can tell you a lot about these terrible 2 months in Mariupol. About the dead bodies on the ground, about the Chechens who took our bicycle, about the water we drained from the heating system and boiled. About waking up in the middle of the night from hunger. But no story can convey the horror of life under occupation. We managed to escape by a miracle. I don’t want to be afraid anymore. And I don’t want other children to be afraid. After all, thousands of children are still under fire and hiding in basements. It is very important that they are helped too”.

— said Oleh Afanasiev, a teenager, who survived the occupation of Mariupol during his keynote speech.

During the discussion, the participants agreed that the international community should make efforts to punish Russian war criminals, as soon, as possible.

“Justice is slower than we all wish. Because we operate in a very complex legal and geopolitical environment. However, I would like to also share a very positive message. When the invasion of Ukraine started already in less than one month, there was already an international journey investigation team established. This was the fastest ever response international response to an armed conflict.”

— said Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust

Olga Aivazovska said that the tribunal is one of the options which will end the war.

“The international tribunal, as a mechanism under the universal jurisdiction, can help Ukrainian society to end the war, when the battle will be ended”.

— summarized Olga

II panel: Russian Impact on Nuclear Security Worldwide.

Speakers at this strategically important discussion for European and global security were Olha Babiy, National Commission for State Regulation in Energy and Utilities (Ukraine), Rebecca Harms, Member of European Parliament (2004-2019) (Germany), Phillip A. Petersen, President. New Generation Warfare Centre (USA) and Nicolas Tenzer, President od Centre d’étude et de réflexion pour l’action politique (CERAP), (France). The discussion was moderated by ICUV advocacy director Victoria Voytsitska.

The main topics were nuclear threats from Russia, attacks on nuclear power plants, and the inaction of the IAEA.

“I’m wondering why it is so popular to talk about the possibility of nuclear weapons applied in Ukraine and at the same time completely ignore what Russia is using for 18 months. Nuclear power plants in Ukraine are like preinstalled nuclear bombs. This is happening while Russia is attacking energy infrastructure. The destruction of supply lines and the destruction of Transformers in Ukraine several times on several days during last winter brought nuclear power plants in Ukraine very close to the edge of disaster”

– said Rebecca Harms.

Experts agreed that after the Kakhovka Dam blew, there was no decent reaction from the world community. Through this unnecessary barbaric act, russians showed that there are no limits to them.

“There was no reaction after Kakhovka Dam blowing. No sanctions, no statements of saying: okay, enough is enough, we recognize that Russians are so ruthless, that they can actually create such magnitude disasters after the WW II, that are just huge consequences and not just for Ukraine, but for the Black Sea region as well. Because the consequences were felt in Romania and Bulgaria. We talk about ZNPP in particular, and we explain that Russians can use, and they will not hesitate to use it as an atomic bomb”

– Victoria Voytsiska shared her thoughts.

III panel: Confiscating Russian Assets: Legal and Political Opportunities.

This discussion was a part of ICUV global advocacy campaign Make Russia Pay. The speakers were: ICUV co-founder Olena Halushka, Bart M.J. Szewczyk, Paul Williams. The moderator was Marcin Bużański, Senior Adviser at Casimir Pulaski Foundation.

“[…] The position of Ukraine is very clear. Since Russia has committed egregious violations of international law and owes the obligation to make full reparation to Ukraine and the victims, it would be proportionate, and it would be non-punitive, it would be restorative to temporarily deny protection of sovereign immunity and make Russia pay reparations by repurposing Russian sovereign assets.”

– said Iryna Mudra, Deputy Ministers of Justice of Ukraine in opening speech.

According to the participants, the main problem preventing the confiscation of Russian assets in favor of Ukraine is the lack of political will among partners.

“We are not confiscating Russian because we do not like Russia, but we are confiscating these assets because Russia has started the largest war of contest on the Europe’s soil, after the WW II, which has to be stopped. Russia is planning to increase its invasion budget by 68%. They are not planning for any peace in the nearest future. They are planning to take Ukraine over”,

– pointed Olena Halushka.

ICUV activities

ICUV stand at the Warsaw Security Forum

This year, the ICUV had a separate stand in the central hall of the Warsaw Security Forum. Here, members of our team and volunteers presented souvenirs – including themed T-shirts from our advocacy campaigns, advocacy materials – research, briefings and various analytical materials developed by our experts to mobilize the world for Ukrainian victory.

We also invited guests of the forum to become a part of the virtual exhibition in VR #MakeRussiaPay and to see the damage Russia has already done with its full-scale invasion: from the destruction of Mriya plane, airports, infrastructure, and people’s homes to architectural monuments and educational institutions. Visual material for exhibition were developed by 360war.in.ua, photographer Dmytro Malyshev.

Former POWs advocacy visit

To draw the world’s attention to this significant issue, we invited former prisoners of war, active Ukrainian military to tell their stories. For two days, they had the opportunity to tell their personal stories of the intimidation and torture they suffered at the hands of Russians in captivity. They also called on the international community to continue its efforts to support the release of their fellow POWs from captivity.

In particular, they met NATO officials – Irene Fellin, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, and Danijel Bajt – representative of the Office of the Secretary-General. Also, they had meetings with Andrew Michta (The Atlantic Council of the United States), Mieczysław (Mietek) Boduszyński, Policy Advisor on Accountability of War Crimes, Office of U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (2022-2023), Braeden Caley, Executive Chair, CANADA 2020, representatives of Leonardo Poland. Additionally, they were interviewed by Ukrainian Radio and Kyiv Independent, NZZ am Sonntag (Germany), Czech Radio, and Polonia 24

Voices of Children exhibition at the WSF

During the forum, we presented the exhibition  “War in the Voices of Children” by the “Voices of Children” Foundation. These are illustrations by famous artists who visualized children’s quotes about life during the war. Visitors were able to hear the children’s stories using QR codes.

We are grateful to our partners and friends from the Casimir Pulaski Foundation for their help in organizing these events and for the opportunity to represent Ukraine at this prestigious Forum.