Ukraine’s High Council of Justice (HCJ) has backed a motion to dismiss Yaroslav Strilets, a judge of the Zastavna District Court in Chernivtsi Oblast. The decision follows systematic violations in his handling of cases concerning the establishment of sole child custody and upbringing by fathers. A disciplinary review revealed that his rulings were widely used to evade military service.
According to the disciplinary complaint, Judge Strilets issued 97 decisions between 2022 and 2025 in cases aimed at establishing that fathers were raising and supporting children independently, either with or without stripping the mothers of parental rights. By comparison, other judges at the same court handled only 2 to 3 such cases each over the same period.
Based on Strilets’ verdicts, at least 84 men secured mobilization deferrals, and 23 men eligible for military service left the country and never returned to Ukraine.
During most proceedings, the judge failed to involve guardianship authorities or hear the children’s testimonies, omitting any justification for these actions in his official rulings.
The investigation also uncovered signs of staged legal disputes. Prior to filing suit, parents frequently signed notarized agreements regarding the children’s residence, and mothers promptly submitted statements accepting all claims without contest.
From the disciplinary complaint materials:
«This provides grounds to believe that the plaintiffs’ rights regarding cohabitation, upbringing, and support of their children were not violated, unrecognized, or contested at the time of filing or during court proceedings.»
The HCJ motion for the judge’s final dismissal from office marks the conclusive step in holding him accountable for a major disciplinary offense.