Work Record Verification: Ukraine Drops Russian and Belarusian Certificate Requirement

Pension Rules Updated for Ukrainians

According to ХВИЛЯ: People who worked in the former Soviet Union before 1992 can now confirm their work history through a personal declaration instead of obtaining paperwork from pension agencies in Russia or Belarus. This option comes from Cabinet Resolution No. 562, adopted on May 16, 2025. The key condition: those years cannot already be covered by a pension paid by either of those countries.

Previously, applicants had to request official confirmation from Russian or Belarusian pension authorities. That channel closed after the full-scale invasion. Now the person filing the declaration bears legal liability for the accuracy of their statement that they do not receive a pension from Russia or Belarus.

For those with Soviet-era work experience, this simplifies what was previously a difficult cross-border process.

Proportional Service Calculation

Another change comes from Law No. 3674-IX, dated April 25, 2024, which introduced a proportional system for counting service. Work periods accumulated anywhere in the world now count toward eligibility for an old-age pension, regardless of international agreements. However, the pension amount itself is based only on contributions paid in Ukraine; foreign service can help someone qualify for a pension but does not increase the payment.

The Pension Fund of Ukraine has already explained how periods from 1998 to 2024 are counted toward the insurance record and how to confirm service if a work book has been lost. Together, Article 24-1 of the Law On Compulsory State Pension Insurance, Resolution No. 562, and Law No. 3674-IX have significantly simplified the process for Ukrainians who worked outside Ukraine before 1992.

Overall, the changes make it easier for Ukrainians with pre-1992 foreign work experience to claim pensions without needing cooperation from Russian or Belarusian institutions. The proportional calculation also opens new opportunities for people with international work records, although it does not raise the final payout.

In light of these recent updates, it is essential for Ukrainians, especially those who were entrepreneurs in the 1990s, to understand how their work history can now be credited toward pension eligibility. For more insights on the process of recognizing entrepreneurial service in that era, you can explore how 1990s entrepreneurs can validate their insurance records.