Dissident Lawmaker Donates 25% of His Pension to the Army, While Some Judges Collect Up to 250,000 UAH Monthly

Pension Disparities Among Ukrainian MPs and Judges

According to Главком: Mykhailo Kosiv, a former member of parliament across five convocations (I, II, III, IV, and VI) and a noted dissident, receives a monthly pension of 22,000 hryvnias. He has stated that he gives a quarter of this amount to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces, using student volunteers to help purchase essential supplies for the military.

“My wife and I have been fortunate in life. We never wanted excess. We have enough of everything-food, clothing, and a place to live. So what do I need those thousands for? What’s the point? For my part, I try to support the Armed Forces every month,” Kosiv explained.

Top Pension Earners in the Verkhovna Rada

Currently, 913 sitting lawmakers and judges in Ukraine officially receive pension payouts. The highest-earning pensioners in parliament include:

• Vasyl Nimchenko, a former judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, who collects 2.3 million hryvnias annually-over 192,000 hryvnias per month;
• Mykhailo Novikov, a lawyer and MP who previously served as a judge, with an annual pension of 1.46 million hryvnias (nearly 122,000 hryvnias per month);
• Andriy Kozhemiakin, a long-time parliamentarian and lieutenant general, receiving 973,000 hryvnias per year (more than 81,000 hryvnias per month).

Among the 858 judges who have declared their pensions, Viktor Shkolyarov holds the record with nearly 3 million hryvnias in annual payments. The highest monthly pension for a judge has reached 249,900 hryvnias. As Mykhailo Kosiv noted,

“this is essentially a continuation of the centuries-old struggle for the survival of the Ukrainian state.”

The wide range of pension benefits for Ukrainian MPs and judges has sparked debate over social fairness and the country’s economic conditions. Kosiv’s practice of donating part of his pension to the Armed Forces could serve as an example for others, particularly amid the ongoing conflict. Such initiatives not only provide financial aid to the military but also help reinforce patriotic values among the public.

The significant disparity in pension amounts among Ukrainian officials raises important questions about equity and governance. While some lawmakers and judges enjoy monthly pensions that can reach up to 250,000 hryvnias, others, like Mykhailo Kosiv, choose to support the nation in different ways. For a deeper understanding of how these financial benefits vary among political figures, you can explore more about the pension amounts received by judges and lawmakers.