International Register of Losses: submitting an application
The International Compensation Mechanism is a system of measures aimed at compensating for the damage caused to Ukraine by Russian aggression. It will include three key elements: A register of damages, where all claims are recorded; a compensation fund, which will be filled with confiscated Russian assets; and a compensation commission, which will assess and award compensation. The process of forming the commission and the fund is currently underway.
Deputy Minister of Justice Inna Bohatykh spoke about this and more during the telethon.
She also informed that Ukrainians are now actively registering applications in the Register of Damages Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (hereinafter - RD4U), and more than 14 thousand applications have already been registered.
Currently, applications are accepted in two categories: death of a close family member (A2.1) and damage or destruction of residential real estate (A3.1). The category for property damage was launched in April last year and has already collected over 13 thousand applications. The category for the death of loved ones, launched a month ago, has more than a thousand applications.
"It is expected that more than 40 more categories will be opened during the year, covering various types of damage to individuals and legal entities, as well as the state of Ukraine," the Deputy Minister emphasized.
To submit an application to the Register of Damages, applicants must provide information and evidence that depends on the category of the application. Some of the information is automatically filled in from electronic registers, while others, such as photos, videos and written explanations, can be added by applicants themselves. Forms and rules for submitting applications are available on the official website of the Register of Losses.
"The Register does not limit the number and format of evidence for victims. We have to demonstrate to the countries how many people suffer from Russian aggression. Anything that can be confirmed - from photographs to satellite images - all this and other evidence can be added," noted Inna Bogatykh.
Thus, the Register of Losses does not set strict requirements for the list of evidence, realizing that applicants are in different conditions. The main thing is that the application must be substantiated. It is recommended to record the event in all possible ways: photos, videos, inspection reports, certificates, etc. Applicants must provide information to identify themselves, evidence to prove the fact of damage, and other necessary information provided for in the application form. For example, for property claims, it will be necessary to confirm ownership.
Submitting an application to the Register of Losses is as simplified and accessible as possible, so the assistance of a lawyer is not required. Most applicants can submit applications themselves through the Diia portal. For those who do not have access to electronic devices, the possibility of submitting applications through administrative service centers (ASCs) is being considered.
Each application is subject to an eligibility check - it must be submitted by the proper applicant, meet the mandate of the Register of Losses and contain relevant evidence. If the application does not meet the requirements, the Register may contact the applicant to clarify the information or refuse to enter it. It is important to note that the Register of Losses covers the period from February 24, 2022 only, as work is currently underway to reach a consensus with international partners on compensation for losses incurred since 2014.
The process of implementing the international compensation mechanism is still ongoing and requires coordination of the positions of many countries and organizations. The amount of compensation will be determined by an international commission to review claims. It is expected that the agreement on the establishment of the commission will be signed by the end of the year, and under an optimistic scenario, the first results of its work can be expected within the next few years. It is important to understand that this is a medium-term process that will take time. Nevertheless, submitting applications to the Register of Damages is extremely important, as the number of victims demonstrates to international partners the need to continue working in this area.
Ukraine insists that Russia must compensate for the damage caused, which is its moral and international legal obligation. Frozen Russian assets are seen as the main source of filling the compensation fund. Despite receiving a loan of USD 50 billion from the G7 countries using Russian assets, Ukraine continues to work with partners to redirect all frozen Russian assets to provide compensation to victims of Russian aggression.