Experts from government agencies, the legal community, and think tanks discussed the challenges and prospects of criminalizing sanctions violations in Ukraine and the EU

On September 23, 2025, as part of the IX Kharkiv International Legal Forum, a panel discussion on the topic "Criminal Legal Means of Combating Sanctions Violations: Ukrainian and International Perspectives" was successfully held. Participants discussed key issues regarding the criminalization of sanctions violations in Ukraine, as well as the application of sanctions at the international level.

During the discussion, experts from government bodies, legal institutions, and think tanks gathered for an open conversation about the challenges and prospects of sanctions policy. The participants discussed:

• The process of criminalizing sanctions violations in Ukraine and the barriers that arise in the courts;

• The most common sanctions evasion schemes worldwide and how the EU responds to them;

• The importance of implementing EU Directive No. 1226 for Ukrainian practice.

The panel discussion showed that the issue of sanctions is not only a legal one but also strategic for national security. Thanks to the joint efforts of experts, lawyers, and government representatives, we are taking steps toward a more effective system to combat sanctions violations.

Special attention was given to issues related to common sanctions evasion schemes and the need to improve the national criminal-legal regulatory system to effectively combat these violations. The discussion also included an analysis of the judicial practice being formed under martial law and a comparison of the Ukrainian experience with international approaches, particularly within the EU framework.

More details in the full conference recording at the link.

The event was organized by the Department of Criminal Law at the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University in collaboration with the think tank "Institute of Legislative Ideas."