Kyiv: When Ukrainian judge Vladyslav Tsukurov discovered he could serve his country both in the courtroom and on the battlefield, he eagerly embraced the dual role.

By day, Tsukurov oversees civil and criminal cases in a court near Kyiv, helping to uphold Ukraine's wartime judicial system. By night, he joins a volunteer unit, "Mriya" ("Dream"), scanning the skies with fellow judges, law enforcement officers, and public servants, aiming to intercept and shoot down Russian drones with machine guns.

Although judges are exempt from military conscription, Tsukurov was compelled to enlist after his daughters chose to remain in Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. "As a father, I must protect them," he said, emphasizing, "My family chose Ukraine."

As Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, particularly during the harsh winter months, territorial defence units like Tsukurov’s have become vital. These groups, formed from volunteers and recruits, shoulder much of the responsibility for spotting and countering aerial threats.

Mriya, established shortly after Russia's February 2022 invasion, was initiated by a former Supreme Court justice, drawing participants from Ukraine’s legal community. "We are all judges from different courts, and we’ve built a strong team. It’s one of the best," noted Tsukurov, originally from Kharkiv.

Despite the patriotic commitment, the strain is palpable. Ukraine’s judiciary already struggles with staffing shortages, a challenge the government must address as it works toward EU membership. Judges like Tsukurov and his colleague Leonid Merzlyi, who serves near Kyiv, balance sleepless nights on air defence duty with their demanding judicial roles.

"Fatigue is the biggest challenge," admitted Merzlyi. "Air-raid alarms ring all night, and then you have to go to court and focus on cases."