On 25 June 2025, Lviv hosted a significant event focused on supporting Ukrainians affected by the war. The gathering brought together representatives of local authorities, civil society, international partners from the Council of Europe, and individuals whose lives have been severely impacted by Russian aggression.
A key moment of the event was the participation of Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who emphasised that this initiative is just the beginning of the path towards fair compensation:
“We are currently establishing the Compensation Commission, which will assess claims from victims. I hope it will begin operating by the end of the year. These stories are not just numbers. They are living voices that must be heard.”
During the second panel discussion, Ms Nataliia Okhotnikova, Senior Project Officer of the CoE Project“Further Strengthening judicial and non-judicial remedies for the human rights protection of the war-affected people in Ukraine” (2025–2026) presented the main achievements of the Project and called participants to join the further Projects initiatives regarding support and relief measures for those, whose life and both physical and mental health were suffered as result of the ongoing war:
“These events are not about figures – they are about every individual who has suffered,” she underlined.
Testimonies That Leave No One Indifferent
Participants heard real-life stories from people whose lives have been shattered by war. One of the most moving testimonies came from Yaroslav Bazylevych, who lost his wife and three daughters during a missile strike on Lviv in September 2024:
“This is not just bureaucracy. It’s a record that my home was destroyed. It is proof that will remain forever. I urge everyone who has lost their home, business, or loved ones – do not remain silent. This is our voice, our memory, and our step towards justice.”
New Opportunities for Victims
The event introduced a new category of claims – A3.6 – Loss of Access to or Control over Immovable Property in Temporarily Occupied Territories. Kateryna Korniienko, coordinator of the “Melitopol. Right Here. Lviv” initiative, noted the prompt response from the community:
“People immediately started writing and asking when they could submit applications. This is a sign of trust. People want to be heard.”
Panel participants discussed how regional administrations, human rights defenders, and civil society groups can support victims by providing information and assisting in the application process.
Khrystyna Zamula, Deputy Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, emphasised:
“We are documenting losses not only within Ukraine. We are sending a message to the world: every crime must be recorded, and every perpetrator must be held accountable.”
Andrii Moskalenko, First Deputy Mayor of Lviv, added:
“We must make it clear: human life is the highest cost of this war. But other losses – every home, every business – must also be fairly recorded.”
The event was organised within the Council of Europe Project “Further strengthening judicial and non-judicial remedies for the human rights protection of the war-affected people in Ukraine”, in cooperation with the Register of Damage for Ukraine, the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Lviv City Council, and the Right to Protection Charitable Foundation.
