PrivatBank Sues Soldier Missing in Action
PrivatBank has filed a lawsuit against serviceman Volodymyr Burenko, who went missing during a combat mission in the Kharkiv region. The bank is demanding repayment of a loan totaling 94,000 hryvnias, comprising 75,000 in principal and 19,000 in interest. This case has provoked public anger, as Ukrainian law explicitly prohibits the accrual of interest on loans for active-duty military personnel. The Lipovetsky District Court has suspended proceedings due to the defendant's official status as missing in action.
Volodymyr Burenko disappeared over a year ago near Lozova. Before the war, he worked as a long-haul truck driver, and his family took out the loan to set up a grocery store. His wife, Olena Burenko, provided the bank with an extract from the missing persons register and noted that her husband's military status legally exempts them from paying interest.
'Volodymyr said it would be better for me to run my own business. It was scary because we needed a large sum. We bought a refrigerated display case for 50,000... His military status allowed us not to pay interest, and we provided all the documents to the bank,' - Olena Burenko.
Separate Incident Involving Wounded Soldier Ruslan Knysh
In a separate incident that has further damaged the bank's reputation, PrivatBank refused to issue a bank card to severely wounded soldier Ruslan Knysh. Ruslan, who lost all his limbs in fighting in the Kharkiv region, was unable to complete an identification procedure at a Kyiv branch on Beresteiskyi Avenue because a manager insisted the client personally hold the card near his face for a photo.
The bank's only proposed solution was to grant power of attorney to another person. Following public backlash, PrivatBank admitted its staff's actions were unacceptable. Bank press secretary Oleg Serha announced an internal investigation had been launched. The bank also promised to deliver the card to the client, review its internal procedures, and later offered to pay for Ruslan Knysh's treatment and prosthetics.
The proceedings against Volodymyr Burenko remain suspended. 'The defendant is a serviceman with missing-in-action status, making consideration of the case impossible,' stated Olena Zavodynska, head of the apparatus of the Lipovetsky District Court. These events have caused widespread public indignation, with calls for greater support for military personnel and their families during these difficult times.
The lawsuit against Volodymyr Burenko underscores the critical need to protect the rights of servicemen and their families, especially during wartime. These incidents highlight systemic issues within financial institutions when dealing with military clients, pointing to an urgent need for banks to revise their policies and procedures. Public discourse in Ukraine is now intensely focused on ensuring adequate support for those on the front lines and their loved ones.