Iron rules: EU backs campaign to strengthen security in Ukrainian courts

The EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine) has joined Ukraine’s Court Security Service (CSS) to launch a joint public awareness campaign on collective security rules in courts.

The CSS protects the entire judicial infrastructure since 2019. According to the agency, court visitors attempted to take 2,429 firearms into courtrooms between January and August 2022, compared to 131 cases in the same period in 2021. More than 86,500 dangerous items – firearms, grenades, knives, pepper sprays, and other arms – could have made their way into Ukrainian courtrooms in this period.

“Through targeted communication, this campaign aspires to raise the public’s awareness of why and how CSS works to ensure everyone’s safety during court proceedings,” said Maura O’Sullivan, Chief of Staff of EUAM Ukraine.

As part of the campaign, CSS will install an interactive cube in courts in Kyiv and the Kyiv region this autumn. By looking inside it, court visitors will see items that are not allowed to be taken to court.  

The agency has also produced a series of short videos about court security – “Iron rules”.

Find out more

Press release