A judge who arrived in Mykolaiv Oblast two years ago has been appointed to head a court there

In the Mykolaiv region, the judges of the Novo-Odesa District Court have elected a new chief judge. Vasyl Kichula was elected to the position, which he will hold for three years.

This was reported by the court’s press service.

The decision was made during a meeting of the judges by secret ballot. Kichula succeeded Valeria Barankevych, whose three-year term had ended.

Vasyl Kichula graduated from the Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy of Ukraine in 2009 with a degree in “Jurisprudence.” In May 2024, he was appointed a judge of the Novo-Odesa District Court in the Mykolaiv region.

In early October, two judges of that court— Valeria Barankevych and Serhii Serhiienko —were suspended from administering justice. The reason was disciplinary action in the form of a motion to remove them from office.

Kichula himself received a lighter penalty—temporary suspension from judicial duties for a period of three months. However, as the court announced the day before, Kichula will continue to administer justice until the High Council of Justice issues a decision on his temporary suspension.

Kichula’s annual financial disclosure statement lists his salary from his position at the court as 987,000 hryvnias. He also received approximately 2,500 hryvnias in bank interest.

The judge owns one-third of a 49.6-square-meter apartment in the Ternopil region. He also uses, free of charge, a 64.2-square-meter apartment in Ternopil, part of which belongs to his wife.

In May 2025, Kichula began renting a residential house measuring over 100 square meters.

As for vehicles, Kichula declared a 2015 Nissan Rogue. He purchased the car in 2020 for 120,113 hryvnias.

Ірина Глухова