Ex-CJI DY Chandrachud Appointed Russia’s Arbitrator in Ukraine Bank Dispute

New Delhi, August 12, 2026 Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has been appointed by Russia as an arbitrator in an investment treaty dispute involving Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank. The case highlights the growing role of international arbitration in resolving high-value disputes arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to reports citing Global Arbitration Review, the proceedings stem from a 1998 bilateral investment treaty between Ukraine and Russia. The three-member tribunal will be chaired by Costa Rican arbitrator and former trade minister Dyalá Jiménez, who was jointly selected by both parties. The third member is Greek arbitrator and National University of Singapore professor Stavros Brekoulakis, who was appointed by Oschadbank. Chandrachud will serve as the arbitrator nominated by Russia in the proceedings. The dispute reportedly concerns Oschadbank’s assets and operations in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which the bank claims it lost as a result of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, particularly following the full-scale invasion in 2022. The bank’s claims are reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Oschadbank issued a notice of dispute to Russia in July 2025, which reportedly went unanswered, before the bank subsequently commenced arbitration proceedings. Chandrachud had earlier declined Russia’s offer to act as its arbitrator in treaty claims brought by Wintershall Dea and Ukrenergo. The offer was reportedly made on the same day the Permanent Court of Arbitration designated him as the appointing authority in the Wintershall proceedings. He later stepped down after accepting Russia’s offer. Oschadbank is represented by lawyers from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Asters, while Russia is represented by a team from Pinna Goldberg. Chandrachud retired as Chief Justice of India on November 10, 2024, having been elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2016. His appointment now places him at the centre of a major international arbitration involving substantial financial claims linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.