On 23 February 2026, Kyiv hosted the Justice Conference – a flagship international platform dedicated to issues of the rule of law, the restoration of justice and the administration of justice in the context of war and Ukraine’s post-war transformation.
The Justice Conference served as a coordination point for political and legal decisions regarding the establishment of a Special Tribunal for Russia’s crimes of aggression against Ukraine, the formation of an international compensation framework, and the development of practical steps to secure the return of illegally abducted Ukrainian children.
The event was organised by the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the NGO ‘Tribunal’ (Ukraine) and the NGO ‘Justice and Accountability for Ukraine’ (UK).
The MAINSTREAM team took part in the organisation and provided communications support for the event.
Over 490 participants attended the event, including representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, international institutions, the diplomatic corps, human rights organisations, the legal community, the business sector and civil society.
Among the guests at the conference:
- Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine;
- Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement of European Commission;
- Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine;
- Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine;
- Eerik-Niiles Kross, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;
- Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association;
- Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi Executive Director, Registry of Damages Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine;
- other representatives of the international legal and political community.
The Role of MAINSTREAM
The MAINSTREAM team was tasked with providing comprehensive organisation and communications support for the Conference, which was highly politically sensitive and attracted significant international attention.
The MAINSTREAM events department team ensured the comprehensive preparation and execution of the event. In particular, it was involved in:
- developing the concept and visual style of the Conference;
- drawing up the event programme;
- preparing and fitting out the venue, decorating and staffing the exhibition areas;
- organising a range of technical solutions for the event.
Cultural and documentary exhibitions formed a distinct element of the concept.
Guests at the Justice Conference had the opportunity to explore the exhibition ‘The Stolen Generation’ organised by Save Ukraine. The exhibition presented the stories of children and families who survived deportation and forced displacement, as well as attempts to eradicate their Ukrainian identity. The exhibition featured documentary evidence, personal stories of victims, and portraits of mothers awaiting the return of their children.
The event also featured a photo exhibition as part of the ‘Culture vs War’ project, initiated by the ‘Watch Ukrainian!’ Association to document and convey the truth about Russia’s war against Ukraine through the stories of struggle told by renowned artists. The exhibition featured works by cinematographer Serhii Mykhalchuk and military documentary photographers Kostyantyn and Vlada Liberov.
The artistic part of the programme was complemented by a kobzar epic, musical performances by Jamala, the Cultural Forces Soloists’ Ensemble, and Veronika Osintseva, who survived after falling from the ninth floor following a rocket attack.
The MAINSTREAM strategic department team provided comprehensive PR support for the event:
- coordination of communications with event partners;
- engagement with Ukrainian and international media (accreditation, organisation of press briefings and communications during the event);
- preparation and distribution of informational materials (press materials, photo and video content);
- media monitoring and analysis of event coverage.
Results:
The conference became one of the key news stories on the topic of international justice and compensation mechanisms for Ukraine, receiving extensive coverage in national and international media.
The event resulted in over 390 publicationsand wide coverage in global and Ukrainian media: Deutsche Welle, Kyiv Post, Marie Claire, Ukrinform, Interfax-Ukraine, Unian, RBC-Ukraine, Liga.net, Suspilne, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, Censor.net, Focus, LB.ua, Yurydychna Gazeta, “WE ARE UKRAINE” TV channel, ICTV-Fakty, Channel 24 and many others.
