A judge at the Desnyansky District Court in Kyiv was attacked
In Kyiv, unidentified assailants attacked Oksana Hrynchak, a judge of the Desnianskyi District Court, right in her office. A criminal investigation has been opened into the incident, and law enforcement officials are currently determining the circumstances of the incident.
The High Council of Justice has decided to submit a request to the Office of the Prosecutor General for information on the progress of the investigation. The High Council of Justice emphasized the need for an appropriate response to the attack on a representative of the judiciary.
Circumstances of the Case
On May 29, 2026, at approximately 9:00 a.m., an unknown individual entered the office of Oksana Hrynchak, a judge of the Desnianskyi District Court of Kyiv.
The visitor did not respond to the judge’s and the court clerk’s requests to identify herself and explain the purpose of her visit. She approached the judge’s desk, holding an open foreign passport in her left hand and a pen without a cap—with the tip pointed toward the judge—in her right.
From the passport, the judge read the first and last name—“Natalia Parshyna.” After that, the woman gave her full name: Natalia Serhiivna Parshyna. Her gaze was menacing, which made the judge feel a real threat of violence. Despite the judge’s repeated statements that she did not know the visitor, Parshina took a step forward and attempted to strike the judge on the back of the neck with the pen, asking, “Sweetheart, do you want to work?”
The judge quickly blocked the blow with her hand, instructed the clerk to call a court security officer, and ordered N. Parshyna to remain in the office. The visitor left the premises before the security officer arrived.
Based on a review of the official website of the Judicial Authority of Ukraine and the Unified State Register of Court Decisions, the judge determined that on April 15, 2026, the Desnianskyi District Court received materials regarding the initiation of administrative proceedings against N. Parshina to administrative liability under Part 1 of Article 173² of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. The case was assigned to another judge. By a ruling dated April 21, 2026, the protocol was returned for further review and proper documentation.
In the opinion of Judge Oksana Hrynchak, N. Parshina’s actions constituted interference with her administration of justice: while in her office, the woman attempted to cause physical harm and obstructed the performance of her professional duties.
Pursuant to Part 4 of Article 48 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judicial System and the Status of Judges,” the judge filed a report regarding the interference in her judicial activities with the High Council of Justice and the Prosecutor General.
In a letter dated June 8, 2026, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported that the case materials had been forwarded to the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office. The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, in turn, reported that the investigative department of the Desnianskyi Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv is conducting a pretrial investigation in criminal proceedings, details of which were entered on May 29, 2026, into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations on the grounds of a criminal offense under Part 1 of Article 377 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (threats or violence against a judge). The basis for the investigation was a report by a Judicial Security Service officer regarding an attack on a judge on court premises. The investigation is ongoing.
Decision of the High Council of Justice
The High Council of Justice has decided to request the Office of the Prosecutor General to provide information on the progress of the investigation into the aforementioned criminal proceedings.
This case once again underscores the importance of guarantees of judicial independence and the need for law enforcement agencies to respond promptly to any attempts to exert pressure or use violence against those who administer justice.
This was reported by the Judicial and Legal Gazette.
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