A court in Rivne has mandated that a mother return over 3.8 million UAH to her son, Dmitry Panchuk, a military serviceman who was held captive for nearly three years. The payments in question were received by the mother while her son was imprisoned by Russian forces.
Upon his return, Panchuk requested the funds be returned, but his mother refused. “She used the money for renovations and personal purchases, living off what was meant for me,” Panchuk stated in a report. Despite his requests, she maintained that he owed nothing and that she was not indebted to him.
After discovering he had been removed from the family apartment, Panchuk decided to take legal action against his mother to reclaim the funds. The court ruled in his favor two months later, ordering the repayment. The mother did not attend the court hearing, and her lawyer, Alla Filatova, did not clarify whether she had the means to repay or if an appeal would be filed. Filatova expressed hope for an amicable resolution outside of court.
Panchuk, who is currently stationed in Kharkiv, has stated he will not consider a settlement with his mother. He rejected a proposal for a monthly payment of 5,000 UAH, emphasizing that waiting decades for the return of his funds was unacceptable. “It’s painful to be betrayed by those closest to you,” he remarked.
He is determined that this ruling will encourage other former captives facing similar issues to pursue their rights. Previously, many were hesitant to seek legal recourse, as laws allowed relatives to claim 100% of the salaries of imprisoned servicemen until February of last year.
Panchuk’s attorney had assured him that they could win the case, despite skepticism from others. “I want to show those in similar situations that they should not give up or forgive, as it could lead to worse outcomes,” he concluded.
Understanding Military Payment Distribution
In cases of military personnel being captured or going missing, specific family members may receive government-sanctioned payments. These monthly payments consist of the serviceman’s salary, rank salary, bonuses, and other allowances.
There are two methods for distributing these funds: the standard procedure and personal directive. Under the standard method, 50% of the salary goes to family members, while the remaining 50% is held by the government until the serviceman returns. For instance, if the total salary is 120,000 UAH, family members receive 60,000 UAH, with the other half held until the serviceman’s return.
The personal directive, introduced in 2024, allows servicemen to designate recipients and determine the distribution of their payments in case of captivity or disappearance. They can choose who receives the funds, set the proportions, and decide whether to deposit all funds until their return.
A Rivne court has ordered a mother to repay her son over 3.8 million UAH in military payments she received while he was in captivity. The ruling highlights issues faced by other servicemen and their families regarding military compensation.