Alexander Varvarenko, Varamar Shipping DMCC: One Court Case Ends, the Commission Dispute Does Not

On 14 July 2026, the Solomianskyi District Court of Kyiv closed the proceedings brought by Alexander Varvarenko, Varamar Shipping DMCC against Konstantin Kalnyi, ruling that the dispute should be considered by Ukraine’s Commercial Courts. The unpaid brokerage commission remains unresolved.

The court did not examine the substance of the allegations. Instead, it concluded that the dispute had been brought before the wrong type of court.

According to the court’s position, this category of claim falls within the jurisdiction of Ukraine’s Commercial Courts rather than the ordinary civil courts.

The immediate result is therefore procedural: the case, as filed, has ended.

The original commercial dispute, however, remains unresolved.

At the centre of the conflict is an outstanding brokerage commission that the broker maintains was lawfully earned for completed maritime work. Payment was not made, and the dispute later escalated into public accusations and litigation.

The claimants may now decide to submit a new claim to the Commercial Court of Kyiv. That would open another legal stage, with a new case file, new hearings and additional legal costs.

But a change of jurisdiction would not answer the central commercial question.

• The brokerage services were performed.
• The commission became due.
• The payment remains outstanding.

The dispute also continues to involve the so-called “WhatsApp fine” allegedly communicated personally by Mr Varvarenko and cited in connection with the decision to withhold the commission.

A new court may consider the reputational allegations.

It will still have to confront the payment history behind the conflict.

The first proceeding has ended without any ruling on the merits.

The wider dispute continues.

The venue may change. The unpaid commission does not.

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