Compensation after the “arrival”: how to obtain compensation for destroyed property

Compensation after arrival due to armed aggression of Russia is possible through state programs of Ukraine (“eVidnovlennia”), the decision of the Ukrainian court, as well as international compensation mechanisms: RD4U, international courts, arbitration.

While the air terror from Russia continues, no Ukrainian is immune from a missile landing or hitting a home or shelling an enterprise. To record a war crime and receive compensation, you can contact the international Damage Register (RD4U) or join domestic state programs, in particular “eVidnovlennia” or “eOselya” (mortgage program). But, unfortunately, many victims do not consider it necessary to file an application with the Damage Register, therefore, the true consequences of the military aggression of the Russian Federation and the scale of destruction remain hidden from foreign allies, and the chances of mass compensation from the assets of the aggressor and its representatives abroad are ghostly. The law firm “DE-JURE” systematically helps victims of landings to obtain compensation for war losses.

What is war damage compensation and who is entitled to compensation?

Ideally, war damage compensation should be paid to Ukraine in the form of reparations from Russia. But since we are talking about one of the two largest nuclear powers in the world and a member of the UN Security Council with veto power, there is no way to force it to pay for aggression. Therefore, the Register of Damages created by the Council of Europe, as well as the International Compensation Commission and Fund, operate in Ukraine. The Register is primarily aimed at helping individuals, but since 2025, sole proprietors and legal entities can also file applications to receive compensation for businesses damaged during the war. The filing procedure is somewhat more complicated for them, so we recommend that you consult a lawyer at DE-JURE.

What documents need to be collected to receive compensation for destroyed housing?

In order to receive compensation for a destroyed apartment or business, it is necessary to record the losses as fully as possible. Documentary evidence of destruction includes:

1. A copy of the State Emergency Service act from the site of shelling, fire or arrival.
2. A certificate of destruction (damage) of property, which is drawn up by the business owner and signed by employees, as well as, if possible, representatives of the military administration, state bodies or local government bodies.
3. Acts of commissions of local government bodies.
4. Results of the assessment or examination.
5. Photo and video recording of the arrival (shelling) and news in the media covering this event.

In Odesa, the inspection commission for improvement records military damage and enters the data into the state register of destroyed and damaged property, and a forensic expert or professional appraiser directly assesses the losses in monetary terms. In some cases, the commission may involve a technical expert to assess significant damage. The company “DE-JURE” helps to find a professional expert and cooperates with him in the process of damage assessment.

How to apply for compensation for damages through Diia or other official services?

Diia has a function for submitting an application for damaged and destroyed property, which includes compensation for arriving at the apartment or obtaining a housing certificate if the housing is completely destroyed and repairs are impossible. To do this, you need to log in to Diia on the diia.gov.ua portal, select the destroyed housing for which you want to receive compensation from the list, and answer the questionnaire. If you want the state to compensate for the damage to the repair in the form of money, enter your “eVidnovlenie” account. And if the destroyed property is not a private house, then compensation will be made to the housing certificate account. Co-owners of the housing can sign the application together with you or submit their own applications separately.

What to do if a fire has struck your apartment: compensation for individuals

Individuals can receive compensation for damaged housing through the Ukrainian state program “eVidnovlenie” by submitting an application through the Diya platform or offline with the help of a notary or through the ASN. Here’s what to do if a fire has struck your home:

1. Determine the extent of damage from the fire, fire, or shelling.
2. Estimate the damage from lost property in monetary terms (including with the participation of an expert or appraiser).
3. Collect evidence that you are the owner of the property (purchase and sale agreement, lease, extracts from state registers, etc.), as well as confirmation of the destruction or damage to the home (the list of documents is given in the previous section).
4. Submit an application under the “eVidnovlenie” program and an application to the Register of Damages.

The commission will set a date for the inspection of the damaged or destroyed property and, based on the results, will provide compensation for the restoration of property after destruction or a certificate for the purchase of new housing.

Is it possible to receive compensation if the apartment in a new building has not yet been handed over or completed?

If the flight occurred in an apartment in a new building that has not yet been put into operation, the person who invested in the construction finds himself in a vulnerable position. Since the ownership of the apartment or non-residential premises is not formalized, this person has only certain property rights or obligations. It is impossible to receive compensation for housing that is not formally owned by him under the national program “eRecovery”, as well as to submit an application to the international Register of Losses under the category “Loss of residential or non-residential real estate”.

Sometimes the developer himself, depending on the terms of the contract, can make certain payments or complete the facility, but this is decided individually, depending on the investment scheme, terms of the contract, etc., and such cases are not common. So, in fact, the only thing a person who purchased an apartment in a new building destroyed by the war can do is submit an application to the International Register of Damages under category A3.7 “Other economic losses and losses.”

How to get compensation if your business is destroyed or damaged?

Many enterprises have been destroyed or have ceased operations due to the war, are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations, or have remained in occupied territories, but compensation for war losses to legal entities is not a priority for international compensation mechanisms. However, in 2025, it became possible for individual entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs to file an application with the International Register of Losses to receive compensation for losses. So if your business has suffered as a result of Russia’s military aggression, contact “DE-JURE” — we will help with the initial recording of damage, conducting an examination, planning further actions, and filing an application.

In addition, an effective strategy remains to file a claim with a Ukrainian court and obtain a decision on the Russian Federation’s liability for causing losses. After all, the Supreme Court of Ukraine adopted a resolution according to which Russia, after unleashing full-scale aggression, lost state immunity in cases of compensation for losses. It will become the basis for a decision by a court of another jurisdiction to seize the assets of the aggressor state and pay compensation to the victim. You can also seek justice through international arbitration, but it is worth considering that this is a complex and expensive method, and the process takes years.

Can I receive compensation if I do not have housing documents?

If the house destroyed during the war was an illegal self-built, social housing, or a person simply did not register the ownership or did not complete the privatization procedure, then he cannot receive compensation under the “eRecovery” program. It remains possible to use international compensation mechanisms and submit an application to the Register of Damages under category A.3.3. “Loss of housing or place of residence”. RD4U provides compensation for the following categories of citizens:

• persons who lived in housing provided for the performance of official duties;
• residents of dormitories who did not privatize their rooms;
• tenants or people who lived long-term in housing that does not belong to them;
• persons who did not legalize their ownership of housing (the owner’s partner who lives in an apartment without official marriage registration, an heir who did not officially register documents in accordance with the law, and others).

It is necessary to provide evidence that the person has lived in this property for a long time: utility bills, a certificate from the condominium association, written statements from family members, etc.

How long does the process of compensation for war damage in Ukraine take?

Compensation for damage from shelling or airstrikes depends on which compensation mechanism the victim has applied to. Thus, when submitting an application through the Action, the commission that makes the decision to provide a sum of money or a housing certificate must inspect the damage and allocate assistance within 30 days. The issuance of a court decision by a criminal court accusing the Russian Federation of causing war damage takes several months, but in wartime this period can be extended. International arbitration for large companies sometimes lasts for years, but allows for the return of large sums of money.

Why is it important to record the damage as soon as possible and who should do it?

Recording the damage is necessary not only to assign compensation, but also to maintain the attention of the international community. If the crimes of the Russian Federation remain on the front pages of the media, this will motivate foreign authorities and citizens to more actively help Ukraine, to seek the introduction of new sanctions, the seizure of the aggressor’s assets and the payment of compensation to the victims. That is why it is necessary to submit an application to the Register of Damages upon arrival.

The initial recording is carried out by the State Emergency Service upon arrival at the scene of the incident. They draw up a report on the arrival, shelling or fire, a copy of which should be received by the owner. Further assessment of the damage and destruction is carried out by commissions of local government bodies, as well as forensic experts and appraisers. If the destruction is significant, a technical expert is involved. The procedure for calling an expert examination varies from city to city.

If the attack occurred in a businessman’s non-residential premises, the owner himself additionally draws up a report of the destruction (damage) of the property and includes a photo or video recording of the consequences.

Is it possible to demand compensation from Russia and is it realistic to receive funds from the aggressor?

Even if receiving funds from the aggressor seems unlikely to you today, it is worth continuing the fight and giving publicity to the case. You can demand compensation through RD4U, apply to the Ukrainian court and fill out forms for the International Criminal Court at the same time. These are all important steps towards justice. In 2025, the company “DE-JURE” became one of the market leaders in the field of “Compensation of war losses” and provides assistance in such cases practically at cost, because we consider this to be our social initiative.