Pension Payments Halted for Thousands of Ukrainian Seniors Amid Challenges Verifying Russian Pension Status

Current Challenges in Pension Distribution Across Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: Since April 2026, thousands of pensioners residing in Ukraine and abroad have faced interruptions in receiving their pensions due to difficulties in confirming the absence of pension payments from Russia. The lack of official documentation proving non-receipt of Russian pensions, combined with no data exchange between Ukrainian and Russian pension authorities, has created significant obstacles. Ukrainian law permits pension payments only if an individual is not simultaneously receiving a pension from the Russian Federation.

Pensioners are required to submit a declaration form to the Ukrainian Pension Fund (PFU), taking full responsibility for its accuracy. Government Resolution No. 299, issued on February 11, 2025, mandates that pensioners complete annual physical identification and confirm the absence of Russian pension payments by December 31 each year. However, in 2026, pension disbursements were suspended for those who failed to meet these requirements. Later, Resolution No. 126 dated February 3, 2026, granted a payment deferral until April 1, 2026, for pensioners who successfully completed identification between January 1, 2025, and February 1, 2026, but did not submit the necessary notification.

Updated Regulations and Compliance Expectations

Under the revised rules, pensioners need to submit a notification of non-receipt of Russian pensions only once, provided their circumstances remain unchanged. Nevertheless, the PFU insists even those who briefly stayed in occupied territories must report. Importantly, a new law concerning internally displaced persons, effective October 22, 2026, eliminates this reporting obligation for individuals who relocated from occupied areas to Ukrainian-controlled regions.

Pensioners living abroad who have never been in occupied zones are exempt from notifying the PFU about the absence of Russian pension payments. Conversely, those who left occupied territories and moved abroad must provide such notifications. Annual physical identification remains compulsory for pensioners residing abroad or in occupied regions.

Several options are available to submit the notification of non-receipt of Russian pensions:

• via the PFU online portal using an electronic signature
• through video identification
• by postal mail
• in person at a PFU service center

The PFU is obligated to make a decision on resuming pension payments within 10 days after clarifying the relevant information.

Experts highlight that the requirement to confirm non-receipt of Russian pensions creates considerable hardships. Pension provision specialist Iryna Polyakova emphasized:

"There is no official certificate confirming the absence of a Russian pension. Such a document simply does not exist and is not issued by anyone, nor is it demanded from pensioners." - Iryna Polyakova

The ongoing issues surrounding pension access and verification of Russian pension status remain a pressing concern for many Ukrainian pensioners, particularly those displaced abroad or living in occupied territories. Although recent legislative updates aim to streamline the process, they have yet to fully resolve these challenges. Addressing these matters is crucial for safeguarding the financial security of pensioners and preventing their social marginalization.

The ongoing complications in pension distribution have raised concerns for many pensioners, particularly those residing in occupied territories. For those affected, understanding the potential for restoration of payments is crucial. As outlined in a recent update, pensioners can declare the absence of Russian pension receipts until the end of 2026 to resume their benefits. To learn more about this process and its implications, read about the suspension of payments in occupied areas.