Frozen Russian Assets as Compensation: Opportunities and Challenges, with Mykola Yurlov

Lawyering Peace

What are the legal and political pathways for using frozen Russian assets to compensate Ukraine?

And why has the transfer of these assets become a litmus test for the rules-based international order?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian diplomat and legal expert Mykola Yurlov joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to discuss how frozen Russian sovereign assets could - and should - be used to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and deliver justice for victims of aggression.

Mykola held the position of Deputy Director of the Department of International Law and Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, where he led both the International Disputes Unit and the Damage Compensation Unit. In these roles, he contributed to the development of an international compensation mechanism and to Ukraine’s proposal for a special tribunal for the crime of aggression. He also served as Senior Legal Counsel at Truth Hounds, a leading Ukrainian human rights organization documenting war crimes on the ground.

Mykola breaks down the legal foundation for asset transfers under international law, including the use of countermeasures and the principle of state responsibility. He outlines how these transfers would support the three-part international compensation mechanism: the Register of Damage, a future Claims Commission, and a Compensation Fund.

The conversation explores both the legal feasibility and the political resistance surrounding asset transfers, especially debates over sovereign immunity, reversibility, and potential financial precedent. Mykola explains why delay harms not only Ukraine, but the broader credibility of international law.

🎧 Tune in for a timely discussion on law, reparations, political will, and the global implications of frozen asset policy.