Oschadbank Files New International Arbitration Claim
Ukraine's state-owned Oschadbank has initiated a fresh international arbitration case against the Russian Federation concerning assets seized in four occupied Ukrainian regions. The bank is already pursuing the enforcement of previous court rulings worth over $1.3 billion. On April 7, 2026, Oschadbank formally submitted the claim for arbitration, following an official notice of dispute sent to Russia in July 2025, which received no response.
Details of the Claim and Assets
The international tribunal will consider assets seized in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Oschadbank's total claim, including interest, exceeds $1.3 billion. This legal action is part of a broader strategy by Ukrainian entities to seek redress for losses incurred since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Notably, the bank previously won a $1.1 billion arbitration award related to its assets in Crimea.
Oschadbank has also succeeded in securing the attachment of tens of millions of euros worth of Russian state property in France. A bank spokesperson stated:
"On April 7, 2026, Oschadbank officially submitted to international arbitration a claim against the Russian Federation regarding seized assets in four regions of Ukraine... We sent an official notice of dispute to the RF back in July 2025, but, as expected, no response was received. The case will now be heard by an international tribunal" - Oschadbank (press service).
This lawsuit forms part of Oschadbank's wider strategy to protect its interests and recover assets seized due to Russian aggression. The bank continues to work on enforcing its legal rights, despite the significant challenges inherent in this process.
The filing of this claim demonstrates Oschadbank's active efforts to defend its rights and interests on the international stage. Past successful rulings, particularly concerning Crimea, provide the bank with a degree of confidence for the ongoing proceedings. This also underscores the critical role of international legal mechanisms in resolving disputes arising from armed conflict and acts of aggression.
In addition to its ongoing arbitration efforts, Oschadbank is currently facing challenges related to currency imports, as highlighted by recent incidents involving the detention of cash couriers in Hungary. This situation underscores the complexities that Ukrainian banks encounter in their operations abroad. For more information on how these events are impacting Oschadbank's financial activities, see our detailed report on currency import disruptions.