Vladyslav Tsukurov, a judge and spokesperson for the Bila Tserkva district court, gazes at the sky during a combat shift with his air defence volunteer unit in Kyiv region, Ukraine, last month. REUTERS

When Ukrainian judge Vladyslav Tsukurov discovered he could serve his country with both a gavel and a gun, he seized the opportunity. By day, he ensures the wartime judicial system functions, presiding over civil and criminal cases outside Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. By night, he joins a volunteer force predominantly composed of fellow judges, law enforcement officers, and other public servants, using searchlights to scan the sky for Russian drones and shooting them down with machine guns.

Judges are exempt from the draft, but Tsukurov signed up after his daughters decided to remain in the country amid the escalating conflict. "As a father, I must protect them," he said. "My family chose Ukraine." Russian forces, intensifying their attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities, are increasingly targeting infrastructure as winter approaches and electricity demand grows. The responsibility of monitoring the skies for incoming threats largely falls to territorial defence units, which are typically assembled from a diverse group of volunteers and recruits.

Vladyslav Tsukurov, judge and spokesperson of Bila Tserkva district court, readies himself for a combat shift with his air defence volunteer unit in Kyiv region, Ukraine, last month. REUTERS

Tsukurov's unit, named "Mriya" ("Dream"), was established shortly after Russia's invasion in February 2022 by a former Supreme Court justice who leveraged his connections. "We are all judges from various courts, and we communicate effectively. I believe this is one of the best teams," said Tsukurov, a native of Kharkiv. Ukraine's judiciary is severely understaffed, a challenge the government acknowledges as it strives to meet the criteria for joining the European Union. The sleepless nights spent on air-defence duty add further strain to their day jobs.

"The only issue is fatigue. Recently, air-raid alarms have been sounding all night," said Leonid Merzlyi, a municipal judge in a Kyiv suburb, standing by his heavy machine gun. "Then you go to work, and... you need to hear cases."

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