Court Reverses 2004 Deal, Returning 24 Hectares of Forest to Ukrainian State from Medvedchuk Family

Land Restored in Obukhiv District

According to Главком: A Ukrainian court has ordered the return of 24 hectares of forest in the Obukhiv district of Kyiv region to state ownership, reversing a 2004 privatization that benefited the family of Viktor Medvedchuk. The Kyiv Commercial Court ruled on July 18, 2024, to reclaim the land, a decision later upheld on appeal. The land had been transferred out of state ownership in 2004 while Medvedchuk was head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine. This case is part of a broader effort to reclaim assets allegedly acquired through illicit means during a period of weak governance.

According to case information, the land was registered to a company whose ultimate beneficial owner is Oksana Marchenko, who is currently under sanctions. The transfer to private ownership was executed based on orders from the Kyiv Regional and Obukhiv District State Administrations. On January 26, 2026, a state registrar officially updated the State Register of Property Rights to reflect the state's ownership of the plot.

Broader Political Context

This legal action occurs against a backdrop of ongoing investigations into Medvedchuk's activities. In August 2025, he and 12 others were notified of suspicion for organizing information-subversive activities, including a media project to spread Kremlin narratives. Furthermore, on February 2, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees to synchronize sanctions with the United Kingdom and extend other sanctions regimes.

Medvedchuk, alongside Denys Zharkykh, founded the political project 'Another Ukraine,' which was registered in Russia as a public organization. In recorded conversations, Medvedchuk has made statements about potential Russian borders in Ukraine, suggesting they 'could stretch as far as the Ivano-Frankivsk region' and that if territories are defined by language, 'Russian borders' could allegedly end up in western Ukraine.

“Russia's borders could stretch as far as the Ivano-Frankivsk region” - Viktor Medvedchuk

This case highlights the state's intensified efforts to regain control over illegally privatized land, underscoring the importance of legal compliance in land relations. The situation surrounding Viktor Medvedchuk and his ties to Russia remains a focal point, as it continues to influence Ukraine's domestic politics and its relationships with international partners. The restoration of state ownership over these plots also serves as a warning to others who may have benefited from similar illegal schemes that their actions will not go unpunished.