Diana Kovalchuk

Country Expert on Ukraine — International-Law Researcher and Country-Conditions Analyst

Summary

Early-career international-law specialist focused on country-of-origin research and human rights, with a strong academic grounding in international public law, human-rights law and international criminal law. Carries out legal and academic research, source evaluation and fact-checking, and analytical writing, working accurately and independently with complex information from diverse sources and to strict deadlines. Country-conditions focus on Ukraine, with a broader working knowledge of Eastern Europe (Russia, Belarus and Moldova). Has completed an intensive international criminal law programme delivered in English through international academic cooperation. Works in professional written and spoken English.

Countries of Expertise

Ukraine; the wider Eastern European region (Russia, Belarus, Moldova).

Details of Country Expertise

Country-conditions focus on Ukraine — following the political, social, legal and human-rights situation and translating open-source and official material into clear, structured research for asylum and country-of-origin work. Areas covered across asylum-relevant themes:

• War, martial law and mobilisation. The impact of the full-scale war, the operation of martial law and mobilisation, and related humanitarian and displacement issues — relevant to protection claims arising from the consequences of armed conflict and forced return.
• Displacement and vulnerable groups. The position of individuals and groups at risk within the current context, including displaced persons and those affected by the humanitarian situation.
• Source evaluation and fact-checking. Identifying relevant information, evaluating sources, fact-checking and presenting findings in a clear, structured and referenced manner to country-of-origin standards.

Broader region: general working knowledge of the political and social context of Eastern Europe (Russia, Belarus, Moldova), with the ability to conduct focused, source-based research on country-specific questions relevant to protection claims.

Experience

Early-career researcher combining university studies in international law with freelance research and analytical support for international clients. Delivers legal and academic research, source-based information gathering, analytical writing and structured reporting; gathers and evaluates information from online and academic sources, analyses complex material, and presents findings in well-organised professional English, managing several projects to deadline in a remote environment. Author of academic research papers in international law and a repeat winner of university scientific conferences and national essay-writing competitions; participates in lectures and academic events led by internationally recognised judges, prosecutors and attorneys. Has completed an intensive international criminal law programme covering the structure and sources of international criminal law, the jurisdiction of international tribunals, crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and the crime of aggression, admissibility and rules of evidence, and reparations for victims of armed conflict. Available for country-conditions and country-of-origin research, source verification and analytical writing.

Languages

• Ukrainian — Native
• Russian — Fluent
• English — Upper-Intermediate (B2)

Political Groups

Individuals at risk in connection with the armed conflict, martial law and mobilisation, and those affected by the political and security situation in Ukraine.

Social and Vulnerable Groups

Displaced persons and individuals affected by the humanitarian consequences of the war, and other groups at risk within the current context.

Ethnic and Religious Minorities

Ethnic and religious minorities across Ukraine and the wider Eastern European region.