Ukraine’s Judiciary — a Cornerstone of Statehood Even in Times of War

During the annual congress of the International Association of Judges, held from 12 to 16 October 2025, Maryna Barsuk, a member of the Association of Judges of Ukraine and Presiding Judge of the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal, addressed the international judicial community with a speech devoted to the unprecedented challenges facing Ukraine’s justice system and its continued work during the full-scale war.

Her address opened with words of gratitude to the organisers and highlighted the importance of the participation of Ukrainian judges in international professional events, even under wartime conditions.

"Ukraine has now been resisting full-scale military aggression for four years. We are part of the European judicial community — and today we are the only European country at war,” the address stated.

Despite the constant danger and ongoing attacks, courts in Ukraine continue to function without interruption.

“The workload has become even more demanding. New categories of cases have emerged, including war crimes, crimes against life and human dignity, and claims seeking compensation for war-related physical, psychological and economic harm. Even though the number of judges has decreased from 10,000 to around 5,000, Ukraine’s judiciary remains resilient and continues to fulfil its duty to society.”

The address also highlighted that judicial reform in Ukraine remains ongoing. Judicial governance bodies continue to perform the functions entrusted to them by the State, while competitions for positions in courts of first instance and courts of appeal are continuing.
“Ukraine continues to develop, and the judicial system continues to strengthen even in wartime conditions.”

Special words of gratitude were addressed to Ukrainian judges who, alongside administering justice, continue to defend their communities during wartime. “Ukrainian judges are holding the line of defence. We remain in Ukraine, administering justice, while many of my colleagues also serve in the Armed Forces or spend their nights defending their cities from drone attacks.”

During the Congress, participants were shown the documentary film We Have a Dream — a joint project of the Press Centre of the Ukrainian Judiciary and director Volodymyr Klyuev. The film tells the real stories of judges who work in courts during the day and help defend their cities at night. “Even during war, the Ukrainian judiciary remains a pillar of statehood, justice and human dignity,” the speaker concluded, expressing gratitude to international colleagues for their continued support of the Ukrainian judicial system, their participation in joint initiatives and their solidarity with Ukraine.

The reaction of the international judicial community was exceptionally warm. Following the address, the audience responded with sustained applause, while representatives of different national delegations expressed sincere words of support and solidarity. Members of the Presidium particularly emphasised that Ukraine is today defending not only itself, but also the shared democratic values, justice and human dignity upon which Europe is founded.

This became a powerful testament to the fact that professional solidarity and the shared values of justice transcend national borders, and that Ukraine today stands as a symbol of resilience, unity and continued development within the European community.
The participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the 67th Congress of the International Association of Judges also served as an important sign of international support and a continuation of professional dialogue on safeguarding judicial independence during wartime.