Criminal Proceedings in Ukraine: What They Are, How to Find Out About Them and How They End

Criminal proceedings are the pre-trial investigation and the court proceedings, together with the procedural actions taken in connection with an act punishable under the Ukrainian law on criminal liability (item 10 of part 1 of Article 3 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (CrPC)). Put simply, this is the whole “criminal case”: from the moment information is entered in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations (URPI) to the final decision – the closure of the proceedings or a judgment. Below: who is who in the proceedings, what the stages are, how to find out whether there are proceedings concerning you, and how they can end. The law is stated as at 27 October 2026.

What criminal proceedings consist of

Criminal proceedings have two main parts:

• the pre-trial investigation – the stage that begins when information about a criminal offence is entered in the URPI and ends when the proceedings are closed or an indictment or one of the motions provided for by the CrPC is sent to court (item 5 of part 1 of Article 3 CrPC);
• the court proceedings – the trial at first instance and, if the decision is challenged, review by the court of appeal and the Supreme Court.

The CrPC also singles out bringing a person to criminal liability as a stage that begins when the person is notified of suspicion (item 14 of part 1 of Article 3 CrPC). So for an individual the turning point is usually the notice of suspicion, not the opening of the proceedings.

Proceedings have been opened – does that mean you are a suspect?

Not necessarily. The investigator, inquiry officer or prosecutor must enter the information in the URPI and start the investigation immediately, and no later than 24 hours after a report of a criminal offence is filed or after they themselves discover circumstances that may indicate an offence (part 1 of Article 214 CrPC). The register records, among other things, the date of the report, the details of the victim or the person who made the report, a brief statement of the circumstances and a preliminary legal classification with the relevant article of the law on criminal liability (part 5 of Article 214 CrPC). Details of a possible suspect are not on this list, which is why proceedings are often investigated “into the fact” – into an event rather than a particular person.

A person becomes a suspect when they have been notified of suspicion under Articles 276–279 CrPC, when they have been detained on suspicion of a criminal offence, or when a notice of suspicion has been drawn up but not served because their whereabouts are unknown (part 1 of Article 42 CrPC). How an investigation begins, what a notice of suspicion is and how long an investigation lasts is explained in “Pre-trial Investigation in Ukraine: How It Works, Time Limits and the Suspect’s Rights in 2026”.

Who is who in criminal proceedings

A person’s rights in the proceedings depend on their procedural status. The main statuses are:

• Complainant – an individual or legal entity that has reported a criminal offence and is not the victim. The complainant has the right to a document confirming that the report was accepted and registered, to an extract from the URPI, to submit items and documents in support of the report, and to be informed that the pre-trial investigation has ended (Article 60 CrPC).
• Victim – an individual who has suffered moral, physical or property damage as a result of a criminal offence, or a legal entity that has suffered property damage (part 1 of Article 55 CrPC). The victim’s rights arise when they report the offence or apply to be joined to the proceedings as a victim (part 2 of Article 55 CrPC). They include the right to know the substance of the suspicion and the charge, to submit evidence, to challenge decisions, acts or omissions of the investigator, prosecutor, investigating judge and court, to have a representative and to compensation for the damage caused (part 1 of Article 56 CrPC).
• Witness – an individual who knows or may know facts that must be proved in the proceedings and who has been summoned to give evidence (part 1 of Article 65 CrPC). A witness has the right to know why and in which proceedings they are being questioned, to legal assistance from an advocate, and to refuse to give evidence about themselves, their close relatives and family members that could form the basis of a suspicion or charge (items 1–3 of part 1 of Article 66 CrPC). At the same time, a witness must appear when summoned and tell the truth (part 2 of Article 66 CrPC).
• Suspect – a person who has been notified of suspicion or detained on suspicion (part 1 of Article 42 CrPC).
• Accused (defendant) – a person whose indictment has been sent to court (part 2 of Article 42 CrPC).
• Defence counsel – an advocate who defends a suspect, an accused, a convicted or acquitted person and other persons specified in the CrPC (part 1 of Article 45 CrPC).

The privilege against self-incrimination applies to everyone: no one may be compelled to admit guilt or to give explanations or evidence that could form the basis of a suspicion or charge against themselves, and everyone has the right to say nothing about a suspicion or charge against them (parts 1 and 2 of Article 18 CrPC).

Public and private prosecution

Most proceedings are opened and conducted regardless of the victim’s wishes. The exception is criminal proceedings in the form of private prosecution, which may be opened only on the basis of the victim’s complaint (part 1 of Article 477 CrPC). The list of such offences is exhaustive; it includes, in particular:

• intentional minor bodily injury (Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (CC)) and intentional bodily injury of medium gravity without aggravating circumstances (part 1 of Article 122 CC);
• domestic violence (Article 126-1 CC);
• a threat to kill without aggravating circumstances (part 1 of Article 129 CC);
• violation of the inviolability of the home without aggravating circumstances (part 1 of Article 162 CC);
• evasion of child maintenance (alimony) payments without aggravating circumstances (part 1 of Article 164 CC);
• intentional destruction of or damage to property without aggravating circumstances (part 1 of Article 194 CC);
• abuse of authority by an official of a private-law legal entity (Article 364-1 CC).

If the victim in such proceedings withdraws the charge, the proceedings are closed (item 7 of part 1 of Article 284 CrPC). The exception is offences related to domestic violence: here the victim’s withdrawal is not a ground for closure.

The stages: from the URPI entry to the final decision

1. Pre-trial investigation. It begins when the information is entered in the URPI (part 2 of Article 214 CrPC). The investigator or inquiry officer gathers evidence and carries out investigative (search) actions, and where there are grounds, a person is notified of suspicion.
2. End of the investigation and disclosure of the materials. If there is enough evidence for an indictment, the prosecutor, or the investigator on the prosecutor’s instructions, informs the suspect and defence counsel that the investigation is complete and gives them access to the materials (part 1 of Article 290 CrPC).
3. Indictment. It is drawn up by the investigator or inquiry officer and approved by the prosecutor (part 1 of Article 291 CrPC). Once the indictment is sent to court, the suspect becomes the accused (part 2 of Article 42 CrPC).
4. Preparatory hearing. The court schedules it no later than five days after receiving the indictment (part 1 of Article 314 CrPC). At this hearing the court may, among other things, approve an agreement or refuse to approve it, and it asks the participants whether the case can be set down for trial (parts 2 and 3 of Article 314 CrPC).
5. Trial and judgment. A conviction may not be based on assumptions and is delivered only if guilt has been proved (part 3 of Article 373 CrPC). If it has not been proved that the criminal offence was committed, that the accused committed it, or that the act constitutes an offence, the court delivers an acquittal (part 1 of Article 373 CrPC).
6. Appeal and cassation. A judgment can be appealed to the court of appeal and then to the Supreme Court. Deadlines, the content of the appeal and how to file it are covered in our articles on appeals and cassation appeals.
7. Review in the light of newly discovered or exceptional circumstances. Court decisions that have become final may be reviewed, in particular where it turns out that the judgment was based on falsified evidence or knowingly false testimony, or where an international judicial body whose jurisdiction Ukraine recognises has found that Ukraine breached its international obligations when the case was decided (Article 459 CrPC).

How to find out whether there are criminal proceedings concerning you

The CrPC expressly gives the right to an extract from the URPI to the complainant (part 1 of Article 214, item 1-1 of part 2 of Article 60 CrPC). The URPI has no open search where anyone could check themselves, so people usually learn about proceedings in one of the following ways:

• A summons from the investigator or prosecutor. The investigator or prosecutor may summon a suspect, witness, victim or other participant for questioning or to take part in a procedural action (part 1 of Article 133 CrPC) – by serving a summons, by post, email, fax, telephone or telegram (part 1 of Article 135 CrPC). A summons in itself does not mean suspicion, since witnesses are summoned too. But a witness has the right to know in which proceedings and why they are being questioned, and to attend with an advocate (items 1 and 2 of part 1 of Article 66 CrPC).
• A URPI extract on your own report. If proceedings were opened on your report, you must be given an extract 24 hours after the information is entered in the register (part 1 of Article 214 CrPC).
• Investigating judges’ rulings in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions. Court decisions are published electronically no later than the day after they are prepared and signed. However, rulings on seizure (arrest) of property and on temporary access to items and documents are published no earlier than the day they are enforced (part 2 of Article 2 of the Law of Ukraine “On Access to Court Decisions”), and rulings authorising a search of a home or other possession of a person or covert investigative (search) actions become publicly available only one year after they are entered in the register (part 4 of Article 4 of that Law). In addition, names, addresses, ID document and vehicle registration numbers of individuals are replaced with codes in the published texts (part 1 of Article 7 of that Law), so searching for yourself by surname is usually pointless. This list does not cover the names of legal entities.
• A search, or seizure of property or bank accounts. This is often how a person first learns about proceedings (on seizure, see “What Is Seizure (Arrest) of Property: Reasons, Procedure and Consequences”). A person who did not take part in the case may apply to the court’s staff to read a court decision or obtain a copy of it if the decision directly concerns their rights, freedoms, interests or obligations (part 1 of Article 9 of the Law “On Access to Court Decisions”).
• A notice of suspicion. The most direct way – and the moment when bringing the person to criminal liability begins (item 14 of part 1 of Article 3 CrPC).

What to do if you learn about proceedings:

• do not give explanations “just quickly” or without an advocate – no one can compel you to give evidence against yourself (Article 18 CrPC);
• find out your procedural status and the number of the proceedings;
• keep every document you receive: summonses, copies of records, rulings and resolutions;
• if a search or detention is happening right now, use our urgent legal assistance.

How criminal proceedings end

Closure of the proceedings

The grounds for closure are listed in part 1 of Article 284 CrPC. They include, in particular:

• it has been established that no criminal offence took place;
• it has been established that the act does not constitute a criminal offence;
• sufficient evidence to prove the person’s guilt in court has not been obtained and the possibilities of obtaining it have been exhausted;
• the suspect or accused has died, unless the proceedings are needed to rehabilitate them;
• the victim has withdrawn the charge in private prosecution proceedings (except for offences related to domestic violence);
• after the person was notified of suspicion, the time limit for the pre-trial investigation set by Article 219 CrPC expired – except where the suspicion concerns a grave or special grave offence against a person’s life and health.

An investigator or inquiry officer may close proceedings only on certain grounds and only if no one in them has been notified of suspicion; in respect of a suspect, the decision is taken by the prosecutor (part 4 of Article 284 CrPC). A copy of the investigator’s or inquiry officer’s resolution on closure is sent to the complainant, the victim and the prosecutor. The prosecutor may revoke it within twenty days of receiving the copy, and the complainant or victim may file a complaint with the prosecutor within ten days of receiving it (part 6 of Article 284 CrPC). A prosecutor’s decision to close proceedings in respect of a suspect does not prevent the investigation of the criminal offence concerned from continuing (part 5 of Article 284 CrPC). More on our Closing criminal proceedings service page.

Release from criminal liability

The grounds are set by the CC: in particular, active repentance, reconciliation with the victim, transfer on bail, change of circumstances and expiry of the limitation period (Articles 45–49 CC). Only a court may release a person from criminal liability (part 2 of Article 44 CC), and in that case the proceedings are closed by the court (item 1 of part 2 of Article 284 CrPC). The suspect or accused must be told of the right to object to closure on this ground; if they object, the investigation and trial continue in full under the general procedure (part 3 of Article 285, part 8 of Article 284 CrPC). Release from liability is not an acquittal, so whether to accept it or to seek an acquittal is best decided together with an advocate.

Agreements

The CrPC provides for two types of agreement: a reconciliation agreement between the victim and the suspect or accused, and a plea agreement between the prosecutor and the suspect or accused (Article 468 CrPC). A reconciliation agreement may be concluded in proceedings concerning minor crimes, minor offences and in private prosecution proceedings (part 3 of Article 469 CrPC); for a plea agreement the law sets its own list of cases and conditions (part 4 of Article 469 CrPC). An agreement is approved by the court (item 1 of part 3 of Article 314 CrPC).

Judgment

The court delivers either a conviction or an acquittal (Article 373 CrPC).

Frequently asked questions

Will the case be closed if the victim “withdraws the complaint”?

Only in private prosecution proceedings: the victim’s withdrawal of the charge is a ground for closure, except for offences related to domestic violence (item 7 of part 1 of Article 284 CrPC). In other proceedings the law provides no such ground, so “withdrawing the complaint” does not in itself stop the investigation. For minor crimes and minor offences a reconciliation agreement is possible (part 3 of Article 469 CrPC), and a first-time offender who has committed a minor crime, or a minor offence through negligence, may be released from criminal liability on reconciliation with the victim under the conditions of Article 46 CC.

Do open proceedings mean a criminal record?

No. A person has a criminal record from the day a conviction becomes final until the record is expunged or lifted (part 1 of Article 88 CC). Rehabilitated persons are considered to have no criminal record (part 4 of Article 88 CC). Neither open proceedings nor the status of a witness or suspect amounts to a criminal record.

Can proceedings be checked online?

There is no open search in the URPI. Investigating judges’ rulings and judgments can be found in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions on the official web portal of the Ukrainian judiciary (part 1 of Article 4 of the Law “On Access to Court Decisions”), but subject to the publication delays and anonymisation described above.

What if the police will not register a report of a crime?

A failure by the investigator, inquiry officer or prosecutor to enter information in the URPI after receiving a report can be challenged before an investigating judge (item 1 of part 1 of Article 303 CrPC). An advocate can help protect the rights of the complainant and the victim – see our Protecting the rights of the victim service.

How long do criminal proceedings last?

The CrPC sets time limits for the pre-trial investigation according to the gravity of the offence, and extending them follows a separate procedure. How they are calculated and what happens when a time limit expires is explained in our article on the pre-trial investigation.

This article is for information only, reflects the law as at 27 October 2026 and is not a substitute for advice on your situation.

Proceedings opened, a summons from the investigator or a notice of suspicion? An advocate will establish your status, prepare a position and support you at every stage → Criminal defence · Defence during the pre-trial investigation · Closing criminal proceedings · Protecting the rights of the victim.