Judge supported creation of Crimean-Kherson district and may go to jail

Judge of the Northern Economic Court of Appeal Volodymyr Kuksov was dismissed for violating his oath of office after he approved the creation of the "Crimean-Kherson District" and supported the occupation of part of the Zaporizhzhia region. He is charged with denying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and justifying the occupation authorities.

This was reported by Slistvo.info with reference to the decision of the High Council of Justice.

On July 1, 2025, the High Council of Justice dismissed Judge Volodymyr Kuksov of the Northern Economic Court of Appeal for violating his oath - the decision was made on the basis of paragraph 3 of part 6 of Article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine.

Kuksov is involved in criminal proceedings opened on the fact of denying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, supporting the occupation of part of Zaporizhzhia region and approving the creation of the so-called "Crimean-Kherson district". According to the SBU, in the published audio recordings, the judge privately denies Russian war crimes in the Kyiv region, criticizes the Ukrainian terrorist defense, and uses rhetoric such as "Benderites." After the occupiers liberated the Kyiv region, the judge, in particular, stated that "the fascists in Kyiv now feel good." The case was brought to court in the fall of 2023.

According to media reports, the judge repeatedly contacted a resident of the occupied village of Myrne, Zaporizhzhia region, by phone. During these conversations, Kuksov not only praised the actions of the occupiers, but also advised the interlocutor to get a job in the so-called police of the occupation authorities.

In his comments to Watchers journalists, Kuksov tried to justify himself, claiming that his phrases were said with sarcasm. Explaining his call to the occupation, he claimed that "neither he nor his interlocutor is responsible" because the latter "did not get a job".

According to media reports, Kuksov has been working in the judiciary since 2003, first in Alushta, then in Kyiv. In his declaration for 2024, he indicated a considerable amount of real estate: three land plots and a house of more than 214 square meters in the Kyiv region. In 2022, he also purchased a 2021 RANGE ROVER for more than UAH 4.5 million. His official income for 2024 amounted to over UAH 1.29 million.

Recently, a judge from Mykolaiv region was removed from office following a complaint from DEJURE lawyers over an incident in April 2024 when he was stopped by patrol police on suspicion of driving under the influence. Earlier, in 2017, he was reprimanded for violating procedural law, and in 2024 he was found guilty of failing to timely report income of UAH 600,000 to the NACP.

Анна Бальчінос