Ukrainian citizens who were forced to leave their country due to the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation can now officially submit claims for compensation for the damages they have suffered. This opportunity has been made possible by a new category of applications opened in the Register of Damages, which operates under the auspices of the Council of Europe.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Compensation Mechanism and New Opportunities for Victims
As of February 23, 2026, a separate category for compensation for damages caused by the forced displacement of citizens has been introduced in the Register of Damages, including the loss of housing, property, and other material losses resulting from the aggression of the Russian Federation. According to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, this step significantly expands the opportunities for Ukrainians to document and submit claims for reimbursement.
“Responsibility and compensation are key elements of a just and lasting peace.”
As of today, the Register of Damages already contains over 110,000 submitted claims; however, this is only a small fraction of the total losses suffered by Ukrainians since the beginning of the full-scale war. The opening of this new category will allow even more victims to be involved in the process of documenting and receiving compensation.
Establishment and Operation of the Register of Damages
The Register of Damages was established under the guidance of the Council of Europe on May 17, 2023, for the systematic collection of information about losses caused by the aggression of Russia against Ukraine. The Compensation Commission began its work on December 16, 2025, evaluating submitted claims and determining the amounts of compensation.
The issue of funding for compensation payments is still under discussion. However, as previously noted by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, sources for such payments could include frozen assets of the Russian Federation as well as revenues generated from the sale of Russian oil.