Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation founded in 1949, dedicated to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and democratic standards across the European continent. Its seat is in Strasbourg, France. Unlike the European Union, it is not a supranational body but operates principally through international conventions — most prominently the European Convention on Human Rights — and through monitoring of their implementation by member states. Key institutions include the European Court of Human Rights and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
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US proposed handing frozen Russian assets to Washington-controlled vehicle; Europeans reject plan
The United States proposed to European allies that part of roughly €260 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets be unfrozen and transferred to a financial structure under US control, to revive peace talks on Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on 15 October. European delegates rejected the idea, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly insisted the assets remain frozen in Europe with Europeans deciding their fate. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had no information about the proposal.
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Ukraine completes opening of all 43 claim categories at international damage register
The International Register of Damage Caused by Russia's Aggression Against Ukraine (RD4U) completed the phased opening of all 43 claim categories on 30 September. The categories cover damages to individuals, legal entities, and the State of Ukraine. The Register has received about 195,000 claims, of which more than 65,000 have been entered into the Register.
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Russian drone strikes Kyiv's National Academy of Sciences building, killing at least two
On 28 September 2026, a Russian jet-powered drone struck the Presidium building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) in central Kyiv around 13:30, causing a large fire and partially destroying the second and third floors of the historic structure. At least two people were killed — including the personal assistant of NASU Vice-President Volodymyr Horbulin — and multiple others were injured; some NASU staff remained unreachable after the strike. President Zelensky promised a Ukrainian response, Foreign Minister Sybiha called on UNESCO to strip Russia of voting rights, and the strike drew condemnation from European leaders and institutions.
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Ukraine proposes Oleshky evacuation, accuses Russia of blocking it as starvation reports mount
Ukraine has proposed a temporary ceasefire and land corridor to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, but says Russia has rejected the plan. Ukrainian officials describe a humanitarian catastrophe with no food deliveries since late May, cases of starvation, and civilians trapped by mines and shelling, while Kyiv appeals to the UN, ICRC, Council of Europe and Pope Leo XIV for help.
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Council of Europe rights chief calls for ceasefire, evacuation in occupied Oleshky
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty has called for an immediate local ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and the evacuation of civilians from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region, where residents face severe hunger, lack of medicine, water, and electricity. No food deliveries have reached the town since late May, and the only road in is mined and monitored by drones. O'Flaherty cited the Fourth Geneva Convention in holding Russia, as the occupying power, responsible for providing for the population.
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Finland approves Special Tribunal on Russian aggression and Compensation Commission, sends proposals to parliament
Finland's government endorsed the creation of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and an International Compensation Commission for Ukraine, transmitting its proposals to the Finnish parliament. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decisions on X. Finland becomes the 21st state to join the tribunal agreement.
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Former Ukrainian prosecutor general Kravchenko fired from prosecution service after failing to return from abroad
Former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who left Ukraine on a self-arranged five-day business trip in mid-September, had not returned to work at the Office of the Prosecutor General by 14:00 on 21 September, three days after his trip officially ended. He had already been suspended by the president on 14 September and dismissed by parliament on 15 September, and on 21 September he was formally removed from the prosecution service by acting Prosecutor General Anton Kovalsky.
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Netherlands ratifies convention establishing International Compensation Commission for Ukraine
The Netherlands has completed ratification of the Council of Europe convention that creates an International Compensation Commission for damages caused by Russia's war against Ukraine. The Dutch Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe submitted the ratification instrument in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. With this step, nine countries plus the EU have now completed ratification; 25 are required for the convention to enter into force.
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Ukraine's Diia portal opens four new claim categories in international Register of Damage
Ukraine's Diia portal launched four new categories of applications to the international Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U). The categories cover loss of access to medical care, loss of access to education, other violations of international law, and other economic losses. Applications are submitted through the Diia portal and forwarded automatically to the Register.
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Hungary's Magyar ties support for Ukraine's EU accession to minority rights deal
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on 3 September that Budapest will only back further progress in Ukraine's EU accession talks if a bilateral agreement on Hungarian minority rights in Ukraine is implemented. His comments came as Ukraine said it had met the conditions to open the second and third negotiating clusters, and as the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, unanimously adopted a statement condemning Soviet-era crimes in Transcarpathia.