In a letter addressed to the heads of national delegations to the Congress and to presidents of European and national associations of local and regional authorities, Congress President Marc Cools drew their attention to an important development of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, part of an international compensation mechanism within the framework of the Council of Europe.
The Register has now opened a new category of claims for Ukrainian refugees abroad who seek compensation for damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression. Such claims will help to establish the complete list of damage, which is necessary for holding Russia accountable and for ensuring justice for Ukraine.
In his letter, President Cools invites the heads of delegations and associations’ presidents to disseminate this information to their members, in order to raise their awareness and encourage them to reach out to those displaced as a result of Russia’s aggression and hosted in their cities and regions, so that they could make full use of the Register of Damage by submitting claims for both material and non-material harm suffered as a direct consequence of their involuntary displacement.
Category A1.2, concerning “Involuntary displacement outside of Ukraine”, enables people who were forced to leave their home and move abroad as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and those who have been unable to return to Ukraine for the same reason, to submit claims for damages. Four years after the start of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, more than 6.8 million people remain displaced outside Ukraine, according to the United Nations.
For many, displacement has meant prolonged separation from home, disruption of family life and significant psychological hardship. The opening of Category A1.2 allows people who have been affected to submit claims for non-material harm suffered as a direct consequence of their involuntary displacement.
People displaced abroad – along with all others who have suffered damage as a result of the war – may also submit claims under the other categories that are currently open in the Register. These cover a wide range of harm, including damage or destruction of property, loss of housing, personal injury, loss of life, missing family members, conflict-related sexual violence, and other serious violations and losses resulting from Russia’s aggression. Those who have been granted temporary protection or asylum by another state as a result of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion will be considered to have been involuntarily displaced outside Ukraine for the purposes of Category A1.2. This category of claims is now open to Ukrainian nationals and will be extended to people of other nationalities following the completion of the necessary technical arrangements.
Claims must be submitted through the Diia web portal. Further information, the detailed Claim Form, and step-by-step guidelines are available at the Register’s website.
