A €300 million EU funding step: Zelensky appoints 16 anti-corruption judges

Judicial appointments announced for Ukraine's anti-corruption courts

According to 5 канал: President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed decrees appointing 16 new judges: 11 to the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) and five to its Appellate Chamber. The appointments cover all but one of the 17 judges initially selected. The decrees were published on the website of the Presidential Office.

This is a significant move for Ukraine, as these appointments are one of the conditions for securing €250–300 million in European Union support under the Ukraine Facility programme. They are also part of a wider reform package requiring 25 measures in exchange for more than €10 billion in state budget assistance. The EU credit programme totals €90 billion.

New HACC judges

The newly appointed HACC judges are:

• Viktor Antypenko
• Oksana Hutsal
• Yevhen Didenko
• Oleksandr Dudchenko
• Vitalii Koriahin
• Vladyslav Kukhta
• Mykola Pika
• Lesia Skreklya
• Iryna Teslenko
• Oleh Khamkhodera
• Marta-Mariia Yatsynina

Appointed to the HACC Appellate Chamber are:

• Nataliia Doroshenko
• Mykola Rubashchenko
• Inna Smal
• Olena Tanasevych
• Ihor Chaikin

Zelensky also signed decrees appointing judges to local courts.

EU approval and funding outlook

EU member state ambassadors have given their political approval to the updated Ukraine Plan under the Ukraine Facility. Final endorsement by the Council of the EU is expected on July 30. Once seven reforms are completed, Ukraine can receive the first tranche of €2.86 billion. A further €7.5 billion could be disbursed in 2026 if 18 additional reforms are implemented.

Additional reforms required

Among the additional reforms needed for continued financing are:

• creating independent supervisory boards for state-owned enterprises
• launching an upgraded IT system for enforcement of court decisions
• investing in education and healthcare
• providing housing for veterans with disabilities, families of fallen defenders, and internally displaced people

These steps are meant to support the country's development and strengthen its institutions.

The new judicial appointments are a core component of Ukraine's comprehensive reform agenda, aimed at improving justice and building public trust in the court system.

This move also signals Kyiv's commitment to meeting EU conditions for financial support, which could prove critical for economic stability amid current challenges. Successful implementation of the reforms is likely to shape future financing from international partners.

These judicial appointments are crucial not only for enhancing Ukraine's anti-corruption framework but also as part of a broader set of reforms required to access significant EU funding. To understand the full scope of these reforms and their implications for Ukraine's financial support from Europe, you can read more about the necessary steps to secure the €10 billion aid package.