Free legal aid in Ukraine: ‘The cost of a mistake, even if it’s just a single word or reaction, can be high’

War compounds human suffering with every passing day. For millions of Ukrainians, the loss of loved ones, the loss of homes, the upheaval of forced evacuation have become a harrowing reality. In these most difficult times of life, people often need not just support but also clear legal guidance and ironclad protection of their rights. To meet this need, Ukraine’s Free Legal Aid system operates to ensure that every person can both exercise and defend their rights.

In 2025 alone, the lawyers of the free legal aid system delivered over 600,000 consultations.

According to Nataliia Marchuk, Deputy Director of the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision, people typically seek free legal aid when they find themselves in their most difficult life circumstances.

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“Every request is not just a dry legal matter – it is a human story filled with emotion: pain, fear, anxiety and exhaustion,” Nataliia says. “Even before the full‑scale invasion, there were emotional situations, because people usually turn to us when they face problems or conflict situations. But the level of stress and anxiety has become much higher since 2022.”

This led the centre to request additional training for free legal aid lawyers on effective communications with people affected by the war, including with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

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Between 2023 and 2025, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Japan, a series of training sessions on effective communications was held, during which more than 2,000 lawyers of the Free Legal Aid system learned how to provide written and oral legal consultations in plain language. Additionally, from 2024 to 2025, over 500 lawyers completed training on communicating effectively with war-affected individuals, including CRSV survivors. This series of training sessions was organised with UNDP support as part of the “UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict” network.

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“How to truly hear a person, how to understand them and how not to escalate tension that is already high,” Nataliia says. “How to maintain your own resilience when you yourself live with the daily reality of air attacks. This is also about the ability to work professionally during wartime, when the cost of a mistake, even if it’s just a single word or reaction, can be high.”

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All citizens of Ukraine and people residing in Ukraine can receive free primary legal aid on any legal matter. Free legal aid can be obtained by phone, online, or by visiting a free legal aid bureau.

Up‑to‑date contacts and information are available on the Free Legal Aid website https://legalaid.gov.ua/