According to Ministry of Justice, the state offers the possibility to receive compensation for damaged or destroyed housing, and the international Damage Registry is intended to record claims and evidence regarding various types of losses for their subsequent review and determination of compensation.
Who can claim state compensation
Citizens of Ukraine who are owners or co‑owners of the relevant real estate objects have the right to compensation, subject to the conditions and restrictions established by law. This applies to apartments, private residential houses, garden and dacha houses that were damaged as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation from 24 February 2022.
An initial requirement is the availability of information about ownership rights in the State Register of Rights to Real Estate; if necessary, this information must be provided by entering it into the register.
Procedure for submitting a notice and documents
The first step is to submit an informational notice about the damaged or destroyed property via the «Diia» portal or mobile app, or through centres for the provision of administrative services (CNAP). The notice should include details about the property, photos if available, a description of the damage and contact information.
After processing the request, a special commission establishes the fact of the damage and determines the amount of assistance. The procedure for filing an application when housing is recognised as destroyed or damaged is similar across the different compensation mechanisms.
Forms of payment and the «єВідновлення» account
Legislation provides for different forms of compensation depending on the nature of the damage. Funds for carrying out repairs are credited to a special «єВідновлення» account opened with one of the programme’s partner banks.
The list of banks is available on the «Дія» portal during the application process and on the official website of the єВідновлення programme. A card can be opened online via the partner bank’s app or directly at one of its branches.
Housing certificate, deadlines and use of funds
If housing is recognised as destroyed, the owner can use the housing certificate mechanism to purchase new housing or receive a cash compensation to rebuild a residential house on their own land plot. The certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of receipt.
The compensation received must be used within the established period. The procedure for applying for a housing certificate is analogous to the standard procedure for submitting an informational notice.
Other sources of support and interaction of mechanisms
Local material assistance may also be provided: information about available regional programmes and their conditions can be obtained from local self‑government authorities or the local CNAP. Local support may also be provided by non‑governmental, civic and international organisations.
The «єВідновлення» programme and the international Damage Registry perform different functions: «єВідновлення» provides state compensation for repair or restoration of housing, while submitting an application to the Registry allows one to assert claims for compensation and submit evidence for further consideration by an international mechanism. Applying to one mechanism does not exclude applying to the other; a claim can be submitted to the Registry even after receiving compensation under the «єВідновлення» programme.
