Justice in the Deep Freeze: Kyiv Court Operates at -6°C as Heating and Power Fail

Conditions at Kyiv's Dniprovskyi District Court

According to Главком: Since November 2023, the Dniprovskyi District Court building on Plastova Street in Kyiv has suffered from an unstable electricity supply. The situation worsened in January 2024 when the heating system failed, causing temperatures inside offices to plummet. In February, temperatures dropped to -6°C, which caused pipes to burst. This infrastructure collapse has blocked the registration of over a thousand cases that have accumulated over an extended period. This crisis highlights the severe strain on Ukraine's judicial system as it continues to function during wartime.

The court premises rely on a single gasoline generator, which is entirely insufficient for maintaining proper working conditions. Another court on Koshitsia Street also has just one generator, where indoor air temperatures do not exceed +5°C. Broken windows in the offices of judges' assistants and on the building's roof have compounded the problems. The cold entering through these windows froze radiators, leading to water leaks. Four radiators have been disconnected from the network, and most printers in the court are inoperative due to the low temperatures. Faulty equipment has reportedly not been removed for over five years.

Staffing Crisis and Consequences

Since the start of the year, the court has received over seven thousand new cases. However, constant power outages and generator failures have led to a backlog of approximately one thousand unassigned cases, some of which have remained unprocessed since December. Judges are forced to prioritize only the most critical hearings, as just two courtrooms are currently usable for proceedings.

Vira Levko, the acting head of the court, stated, 'We write requests to the Territorial Department of the State Judicial Administration of Kyiv almost daily, but there is no response.'

A staffing crisis is intensifying the situation: three consultants have resigned due to the unacceptable working conditions. Levko explained, 'I cannot guarantee people payment. A judge should not be dealing with this, but I no longer remember when I last performed only my direct duties.' She also noted that 'due to damaged wiring, we were afraid to turn on the lights.'

In February, the building lost its water supply for three days, further hampering court operations. With courtroom temperatures reaching -6°C, judges have been wearing their robes simply to retain body heat during hearings. Judge Olena Khromova shared her experience: 'The hearing lasted 15 minutes, and we all froze.'

The situation at the Dniprovskyi District Court is critical, and urgent measures are needed to improve working conditions. Vira Levko emphasized that 'my motivation is respect for colleagues and access to justice, which no one has canceled.' However, without proper support from the Territorial Department of the State Judicial Administration, the situation is unlikely to improve.

The crisis at this Kyiv court underscores the fundamental importance of adequately maintaining judicial institutions to ensure fair and timely justice. The failures in electricity, heating, and staffing are severely impairing the court's work and jeopardizing citizens' access to the legal system. Without a swift response from the relevant authorities, the consequences could have a serious and lasting impact on the rule of law in the region.