Ukrainian Judges Explore Irish and Northern Irish Experience on Judicial Resilience During Wartime
December 09, 2025
As Ukraine’s justice system continues to operate under the immense pressure of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a group of senior Ukrainian judges travelled to Dublin and Belfast from 4–7 December for a high-level professional exchange. The study visit was facilitated by the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine in partnership with Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
The visit aimed to support Ukraine’s judiciary as it works under wartime conditions – with court buildings damaged, judges displaced or serving on the frontline, and an unprecedented caseload of international crimes. For EUAM Ukraine, the initiative forms a key part of its support to Ukraine’s rule of law institutions, helping them strengthen their resilience, independence and capacity to uphold justice despite the ongoing aggression.
The programme brought Ukrainian judges into direct dialogue with Irish and Northern Irish counterparts, legal scholars and practitioners. Northern Ireland’s experience during the Troubles – when courts continued to function even as other institutions were suspended – offered a particularly relevant example of how a judiciary can sustain the rule of law during prolonged conflict.
Focused working sessions explored judicial independence, international criminal law, human rights protection and approaches to dealing with legacy crimes. EUAM Ukraine contributed expertise in international crimes accountability and supported the coordination of the visit to ensure practical value for Ukraine’s interlocutors.
The delegation represented courts from regions heavily affected by the war, highlighting the need for comparative insights and structured cooperation with European partners. Throughout the four-day programme, judges engaged with leading experts and members of the Irish and Northern Irish judiciary, including a judicial roundtable hosted by the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.
This exchange builds on previous visits organised jointly by EUAM Ukraine and IRLI. Together, these initiatives help create a network of cooperation that supports Ukraine’s efforts to administer justice under wartime conditions and to address the growing number of crimes related to the Russian aggression.
EUAM Ukraine continues to work closely with Ukraine’s law-enforcement and rule-of-law institutions to strengthen their capacity, particularly in the areas of international-crimes investigations, judicial resilience and adherence to EU and international standards.
By facilitating international expert cooperation and enabling access to comparative experience, the Mission remains committed to supporting a strong, independent and effective judiciary – one that can deliver justice today while laying the foundations for accountability and democratic resilience in the future.
