Kyiv, 21 January 2026 — In 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, together with its partners, delivered comprehensive support to the judiciary and the free legal aid system to safeguard people’s access to justice and legal services amid the full-scale war. The assistance was delivered through the UNDP's area-based recovery projects.

The total value of the office equipment supplied amounted to nearly US$800,000. The funding was provided by the European Union, the Ukraine Community Recovery Fund, and the governments of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Active hostilities, regular shelling, damage to critical infrastructure, disruptions to electricity and communications, and large-scale internal displacement have significantly complicated the work of local general courts and free legal aid offices. At the same time, the imposition of martial law has led to a sharp increase in public demand for access to justice and legal protection, particularly in cases related to housing loss, internally displaced person status, social benefits, family matters, and the protection of the rights of people affected by the war. This has placed a substantial additional burden on both the court system and the free legal aid system, especially in regions most severely affected by the hostilities.

In response to these challenges, UNDP focused its support on strengthening the operational capacity of local general courts and free legal aid offices in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv oblasts — regions that have experienced occupation, remained in close proximity to the frontline for prolonged periods, and continued to operate under conditions of regular shelling and unstable energy supply.

As part of this support, UNDP and its partners provided computer hardware, server and networking equipment, videoconferencing systems, multifunction devices, tablets, headsets, uninterruptible power supplies, and alternative energy sources. This equipment has enabled local general courts and free legal aid offices to ensure continuity of operations even during power outages, conduct remote court hearings, maintain secure data flows, and provide legal assistance to people who are unable to be physically present at institutions due to security or logistical constraints.

Head of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine, Maksym Pampura, expressed his gratitude to UNDP for its systematic support to the judiciary. “During wartime, it is crucial not only to maintain the functioning of courts, but also to flexibly adapt procedures to the security situation. The equipment provided makes it possible to swiftly adjust working formats and ensure the continuity of judicial procedures even under restrictive conditions.”

Director of the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision, Oleksandr Baranov, emphasized that the equipment is a critical element in maintaining the system’s operational capacity. “During the war, the free legal aid system is operating under increased pressure and dealing with more complex categories of cases. Technical reinforcement allows us to ensure the continuity of legal aid provision, support remote working formats, and guarantee access to legal services despite limited electricity supply, heightened security risks, and a person’s location.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, Auke Lootsma, noted that strengthening the resilience of the judiciary and ensuring uninterrupted access to legal services is among UNDP’s key priorities. “While UNDP’s approach to expanding access to justice is comprehensive, it is the operational capacity of courts and the free legal aid system that forms the institutional backbone for the protection of human rights, the preservation of trust in justice, and the resilience of state institutions in times of war.”

Media enquiries
Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP in Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org