The Supreme Court Confirms the Right of Chernobyl Victims to Additional Payments: Why This Decision is Important for Thousands of Pensioners in 2026

This is why the decisions of the Supreme Court on May 12, 2026, in case No. 620/2616/25 and in the ruling in the case of a client of the law firm "Network of Rights" on May 20, 2026 (No. 600/1438/25-a) became crucial for the affected individuals. The court effectively sided with the Chernobyl victims and confirmed their right to the relevant additional payments.

In the ruling concerning our client, the Supreme Court directly recognized the actions of the Main Department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in the Chernivtsi region as unlawful regarding the termination of additional payments to a non-working pensioner residing in a radioactive contamination area. The court also obliged the Pension Fund to restore and pay the pension increase amounting to two subsistence minimums for able-bodied individuals, as defined by Article 39 of Law No. 796-XII.

It is worth noting that in 2025, the rules for payments to non-working pensioners living in radioactive contamination zones changed significantly. Some individuals were effectively deprived of their right to additional payments due to new requirements for confirming residency in contaminated areas from 1986 to 1993.

"Lawyers and pensioners faced a situation where the Pension Fund began demanding additional confirmations of residency, even though people already had Chernobyl certificates issued by the state. As a result, some pensioners lost their payments or received significantly lower amounts," explains lawyer Andriy Dzis from the law firm "Network of Rights."

These additional payments are provided for in Article 39 of the Law of Ukraine No. 796-XII "On the Status and Social Protection of Citizens Affected by the Chernobyl Catastrophe." Previously, judicial practice allowed such pensioners to receive payments linked to the minimum wage. Over time, the calculation approaches changed, and in 2025, the amount of payments was effectively tied to the subsistence minimum. In 2026, this additional payment amounts to 2595 UAH.

However, the key aspect was that the Supreme Court, in May 2026, established a new legal position in cases No. 620/2616/25 and No. 600/1438/25-a. The court concluded that the Chernobyl certificate itself is sufficient proof of a person's right to the corresponding benefits and payments.

"The Supreme Court effectively confirmed: if the state issued a person a certificate as a victim of the Chernobyl disaster, then the Pension Fund cannot demand additional proof of obvious facts. This is a very important decision for thousands of pensioners," comments Andriy Dzis.

In the case represented by the lawyers of "Network of Rights," the plaintiff demanded the restoration of the pension increase as a non-working pensioner living in a radioactive contamination area, as she holds a Chernobyl certificate and has been registered and permanently residing in the radioactive contamination zone since August 26, 2022. The lawyers also drew the court's attention to the Supreme Court's position regarding the right to the payment amount specified in Article 39 of Law No. 796-XII.

According to the lawyer, this decision is important not only for the specific case.

"Essentially, this is a fundamental question: can the state first issue a person a Chernobyl status and then force them to prove their right to social protection again? The Supreme Court demonstrated that such practice is incorrect," notes Andriy Dzis.

At the law firm "Network of Rights," it is emphasized that for many Chernobyl victims, these payments are not just additional funds but are crucial for medications, treatment, and basic expenses. Therefore, 40 years after the disaster, the topic of Chernobyl remains not only a historical issue but also a pressing social problem of today.