The Netherlands has called on governments to increase their financial and political support for the International Criminal Court as it investigates alleged war crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or risk failing to bring those responsible to justice.

Increased backing for the ICC is “critically important,” Dutch foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra said. The court is grappling with an ever-growing list of atrocities committed against civilians in Ukraine, from the targeting of civilians to accusations of rape and murder by Russian soldiers, uncovered after the recapturing of previously occupied towns such as Bucha.

“This is going to be extremely painful, potentially years of hard work and a lot of resources,” he said in an interview. “It is going to take effort, effort and effort. But at the same time there are a million good reasons to do it.”