The urgent need for swift and effective international arbitration for Ukrainian companies affected by the War
During a panel discussion at Paris Arbitration Week, the need for fast and effective solutions in international arbitration for Ukrainian companies suffering war-related damages is critical, stated Yuliia Tolchinina-Burunska, Director of the Legal Department at Ukrhydroenergo.
Participants at the event discussed the challenges Ukrainian businesses face amid full-scale Russian aggression. In her remarks, Tolchinina-Burunska emphasized the crucial importance of timely arbitration proceedings:
“For Ukrainian companies operating in wartime conditions, the outcome of arbitration matters and the time it takes to reach and enforce a decision. This directly affects our ability to protect assets, restore infrastructure, and attract funding for recovery. We expect arbitration mechanisms to ensure speed and efficiency.”
The discussion, which also included representatives of leading Ukrainian energy companies, became a platform for sharing practical experiences and shaping a common vision for the future architecture of international justice for Ukrainian businesses.
The panel addressed key challenges in international dispute resolution caused by the war, with particular attention to investment arbitration cases stemming from the temporary occupation of Crimea. The conversation also covered strategic litigation before the European Court of Human Rights concerning effective control over occupied territories.
Debates on cross-border litigation highlighted proceedings in foreign jurisdictions and the complexities of enforcing arbitral awards in a geopolitically volatile environment. On commercial arbitration, participants compared the procedures and effectiveness of rules under the International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC) at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC).
Concluding the Paris Arbitration Week, participants reaffirmed Ukrainian businesses’ commitment to defending their rights internationally and advancing toward more responsive and effective justice mechanisms.
