Publication date: 21.05.2024
Creating a Register of Damages for Ukraine: A Step Towards Justice and Compensation
On April 2, 2024, an important announcement was made in The Hague about the launch of the international Registry of Damages (RD4U), created to record claims for compensation for damages caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. This announcement became an important event within the framework of the ministerial conference "Restoring Justice for Ukraine", in the presence of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Pejchynovych-Burych, heads of international organizations, ministers and high-ranking officials from more than 60 countries.
Prerequisites for creating the Register of Losses
Creation of the Register of Damages is part of the implementation of the resolution of the UN General Assembly of November 14, 2022 "Promoting the implementation of legal protection and ensuring compensation for damage in connection with aggression against Ukraine." The Register of Damages for Ukraine (RD4U) is the first component of a comprehensive international compensation mechanism, which aims to provide full compensation for human and material losses caused by the internationally illegal actions of the Russian Federation.
-Functions and tasks of the Loss Register
The Register of Damages (RD4U) is designed to record claims by individuals, legal entities and the state of Ukraine for compensation for damages, losses and damages caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The task of the Register is to receive and process applications and related evidence, categorize, classify and systematize these applications based on certain criteria. The Register Council evaluates applications and determines their admissibility. Acceptable applications are entered into the Register for further consideration and evaluation.Criteria for acceptance of applications
-Applications to the Register must relate to damages, losses or damage that:
Were inflicted on or after February 24, 2022;
Were inflicted on the territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, including territorial waters;
They were caused by internationally illegal actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine or against Ukraine.You may be interested in the following articles: Analysis, consultation, evaluation. legal analysis of the situation, lawyer's consultation, lawyer's consultation, analysis of documents, legal analysis of the situation, written consultation, verification of documents by a lawyer, lawyers' documents, lawyer's help online, lawyer online, legal opinion, legal opinion of a lawyer, lawyer online.
-Damage categories
The register covers applications for compensation for both material and non-material damage caused to individuals, legal entities and the state of Ukraine. Although the loss categories have not yet been finalized, the Registry board has decided that these categories are expected to include claims related to:
Loss of life, torture and sexual violence, as well as bodily harm;
Forced displacement and forced resettlement of persons;
Loss of property and income, as well as other types of economic losses;
Damage to critical infrastructure and other state facilities;
Damage to objects of historical and cultural heritage;
Damage to the environment;
Other categories determined by the council.
Initial launch of the Registry
Deputy Minister of Justice Iryna Mudra clarified that the initial launch of the Register focused on one critically important category — damage or destruction of residential real estate. The destruction of homes due to war has a huge impact on people's lives, and the application form for this category has already been approved. Applications will be submitted to RD4U through the Ukrainian digital system "Diya" - mobile application and web portal.International context and support
The historic opening of the Register took place within the framework of the ministerial conference "Restoring Justice for Ukraine", which emphasizes global support for Ukraine in its pursuit of justice and payment of reparations. The presence of high-ranking officials from more than 60 countries and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe testifies to the international recognition and support of the initiative.
The register as a first step towards a compensation mechanism
It is important to understand that the Loss Register is not a court, tribunal, compensation commission or compensation fund. It will not review claims on their merits, assess their value, or award any payments. These functions will be performed by an international compensation mechanism that will be established in the future. Work on establishing a compensation mechanism has already begun, and the Registry's mandate includes facilitating this work.
Conclusion
The creation of the Register of Damages (RD4U) is an important step on the way to fair compensation for damages caused to Ukraine as a result of the aggression of the Russian Federation. This initiative will not only facilitate the collection and accounting of damage claims, but will also be a strong evidence for holding Russia accountable for the damage caused during the war. Global support and international recognition of this initiative testify to the importance and necessity of providing legal protection and compensation for Ukraine and its citizens.
