ODIHR Ukraine Monitoring Initiative

The Ukraine Monitoring Initiative (UMI) monitors, researches, documents and reports on alleged violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) linked to the international armed conflict in Ukraine. It also informs OSCE participating States and the wider public about developments on the ground.

UMI does not carry out criminal investigations. Instead, its work focuses on establishing facts through independent monitoring and reporting. By documenting violations and sharing survivors' and witnesses' experiences, UMI’s findings can help support efforts to ensure accountability.

Based on its findings, UMI issues recommendations to the parties to the conflict, calling on them to address the issues identified in its reports and to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian and human rights law.

UMI also makes recommendations to OSCE participating States, including on providing redress to survivors, supporting accountability efforts, and funding humanitarian assistance and civil society work documenting violations.

OSCE human dimension commitments emphasize the vital importance of participating States adhering to and implementing their binding obligations under IHL and IHRL in international treaties, including the Geneva Conventions. 

Nevertheless, the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and the resulting armed conflict, has led to widespread civilian suffering and extensive evidence of human rights and humanitarian law violations.

In line with its mandate to assist OSCE participating States in the implementation of human dimension commitments, ODIHR established the Ukraine Monitoring Initiative (UMI) immediately after 24 February 2022 and began monitoring and documenting reported violations in the context of the armed conflict, focusing on the most pressing issues affecting the lives of civilians and prisoners of war.

UMI’s analysis of the situation in Ukraine and of reported IHL and IHRL violations is informed by relevant legal provisions applicable to the international armed conflict in Ukraine. The methodology employed by UMI was informed by and tailored to the circumstances on the ground in Ukraine.

UMI’s monitoring and reporting rely on verified information from sources assessed as credible and reliable. The main source of information comes from interviews conducted by ODIHR monitors with witnesses and survivors of alleged violations in Ukraine. During these interviews, monitors follow a trauma-informed approach based on the principles of “do no harm,” informed consent, and awareness of the risk of re-traumatization.

UMI also gathers information through meetings with non-governmental organizations working on IHL and IHRL issues in Ukraine. It reviews information provided or published by institutions in Ukraine and the Russian Federation, as well as by international organizations. In addition, UMI uses desk research, remote monitoring and open-source investigation techniques. All information is cross-checked and verified using several independent sources assessed as credible and reliable.

Since February 2022, the UMI has published eight interim reports documenting alleged violations of IHL and IHRL in the context of the international armed conflict in Ukraine. The most recent report was released in December 2025.

UMI publishes interim reports twice a year, in July and December, to provide regular updates on developments and documented violations.

UMI has interviewed over 700 witnesses and survivors of alleged violations and has carried out 27 deployments to Ukraine and neighboring countries. These interviews and field missions form the basis of UMI’s reporting and analysis.