WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently co-introduced the Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure the U.S. is undertaking coordinated efforts to collect and maintain evidence of war crimes and atrocities committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

"While Russian troops at the direction of Putin are invading a sovereign country and committing heinous crimes against the Ukrainian people, President Biden and Congress must work together on a coordinated response to war crimes," said Senator Tillis. "This legislation will require a report to Congress on everything the United States is doing to respond to the war in Ukraine and keep a record of any evidence of war crimes. We must hold Putin's regime accountable for starting this unprovoked war against a free and sovereign democracy and spilling the blood of innocent people."

The Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act would issue a statement of policy and require a report to Congress within 90 days to ensure the U.S. is undertaking coordinated efforts to collect, analyze, and maintain evidence of war crimes and atrocities as defined in the U.S. Code committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to deter the commission of such crimes by making Russian commanders, troops, and leaders aware of efforts to collect evidence and identify those committing these atrocities. The bill focuses on the development and maintenance of evidence and does not specify any specific prosecution venue in which such evidence may be used.

The House version of this legislation passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs unanimously and was adopted by the full House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 418-7 on April 6, 2022. 

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