Vasyl Nimchenko’s Court Case
People’s Deputy Vasyl Nimchenko is engaged in a legal dispute with Ukraine’s Pension Fund, seeking a recalculation of his lifelong monthly allowance as a retired judge of the Constitutional Court. He demands that his payments be raised from 50% to 90% of a judge’s salary. Nimchenko filed his lawsuit with the Kyiv District Administrative Court in May 2023. The court initially left the claim without progress due to missed filing deadlines—such lawsuits must be submitted within six months.
Nimchenko, a lawmaker elected from the now-banned party Opposition Platform — For Life, is requesting that his lifelong monthly allowance be calculated at 90% of a Constitutional Court judge’s salary instead of the current 50%. He also seeks a retroactive recalculation of payments starting from March 11, 2020. Currently, Nimchenko declares a monthly pension of 192,100 UAH. Over the course of 2025, his total pension payments amounted to 2.3 million UAH. If he wins the case, his monthly pension could rise to between 380,000 and 390,000 UAH. Among active lawmakers, Nimchenko already holds the record for the highest pension.
Broader Implications for Society
This legal battle could significantly affect future pension funding for other judges and civil servants, as the issue of recalculating pension benefits is relevant to many individuals receiving similar payments. At the same time, the situation may spark public debate about the fairness and transparency of Ukraine’s pension system, especially amid ongoing economic challenges. The outcome of this lawsuit could also shape Nimchenko’s public image, given the contrast between his high pension payouts and the social security struggles faced by many citizens.
For context, last year a court sentenced a construction worker for stealing items from Nimchenko. The thief received five years in prison, later commuted to one year and three months of probation. The theft occurred in the packing area of a Novus supermarket, and law enforcement arrested the perpetrator within four hours of the crime.