No Quick Fix, But a Start: ULN’s Work for War Survivors

By Olesia Zaiets- International Lawyer and Project Officer of Ukraine Legal Network, a project of The Nuhanovic Foundation

In 2023, after several years of negotiations, the Council of Europe, together with the Ukrainian government and other partners, established the Register of Damage for Ukraine as part of the broader compensation mechanism.

One of the core activities of the Ukraine Legal Network (ULN Ukraine Legal Network), a project of The Nuhanovic Foundation, is rooted in a simple but important mission: to work directly with victims and assist them in submitting claims for compensation to the Register of Damage. From day one, we have focused on supporting those most affected by Russia’s war by helping them take concrete steps toward recognition of their losses.

The biggest obstacle we face, however, is trust. And that is entirely understandable. Trust is difficult to build when survivors are asked to register claims without seeing immediate outcomes and place hope in systems that are still being constructed. Many victims ask us the same difficult question: “Is there money available to compensate us?” The honest answer is not yet. The Compensation Commission that will decide on the claims and the amounts is still being set up. In the best-case scenario, it may begin functioning later this year. Even then, actual payouts seem to be a long and thorny road.

To understand the emotional weight behind this process, imagine people from a currently occupied Ukrainian territory. Realistically, you know you might not return home for years, if ever. Your house, your business, your former life, remain out of reach. The sense of despair is heavy, and the future feels painfully uncertain. And yet, we are seeing progress. In April 2024, the Register began accepting claims for loss of immovable property. Since then, eight more categories have been added, including categories related to violations of personal integrity. Importantly, there is no exception for military personnel. This means that if we see a soldier who served in the Ukrainian armed forces and is now undergoing rehabilitation in the Netherlands, they are eligible—and we encourage to submit claims under the category of serious personal injury.

What can victims expect? We believe that the commitment to justice will ultimately prevail over political hesitation. That the rule of law will not remain just a notion from smart books but will be realised and upheld by the democratic world.

This article was first published in the Community Corner of our Just Reparation newsletter. These contributions are invaluable in enriching our collective understanding and fostering meaningful dialogue within the reparation community of practice. If you would like to be featured, we encourage you to submit your contributions to [email protected].