11 November 2026, 18:22
In Odesa, a court ruled in favor of the family of a fallen soldier, whose claim for compensation had been denied by the Ministry of Defense
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ILLUSTRATION: Intent/AI
The Odesa District Administrative Court overturned the Ministry of Defense’s decision denying the mother of a fallen soldier a one-time financial benefit and ordered the ministry to grant and pay it.
This is stated in the court’s ruling.
The junior sergeant was killed on October 5, 2024, in the Sumy region. He was fatally wounded by a shot fired from another soldier’s assault rifle. According to the findings of an internal investigation, the soldier handled the weapon carelessly and grossly violated safety regulations.
A criminal case has been opened on the grounds of intentional homicide. A military medical commission determined that the death was related to military service.
However, the Ministry of Defense commission denied assistance to the deceased’s parents. The ministry explained this by noting that alcohol—1.67 per mille—was found in the soldier’s blood.
The court noted that the Ministry of Defense failed to prove a link between the alcohol and the death. According to the court’s conclusion, the soldier died as a result of another person’s actions, and the alcohol was merely a contributing factor.
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The court cited the Supreme Court’s position: the mere fact of intoxication does not constitute grounds for denying benefits if a person died as a result of another person’s actions.
The court overturned the Ministry of Defense’s denial. The ministry must now determine and pay the mother her share of the benefits. The deceased’s father is also entitled to benefits, but since he did not make any claims in this case, the court did not determine the full amount.
