Compensation: how civilians can record loss of health and disability

As a result of military aggression, thousands of civilians have sustained serious injuries. These civilians, who are not combatants, have suffered direct blows from the aggressor. The question that arises before them is: who and how will compensate them for their lost health and suffering? Although the perpetrator’s responsibility is obvious, obtaining monetary compensation requires a precise legal mechanism capable of proving the damage.

International Registry of Damage and Social Support

Ukraine initiated the creation of a special legal mechanism – the International Registry of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U). In essence, it is a global, centralized database that collects information on all types of damage and destruction caused by Russian aggression. Forty-four partner countries and the European Union have already joined the registry, and in Ukraine the process is coordinated by the Ministry of Health. For the affected Ukrainians, this is a chance to receive social support – to document their case, establish responsibility, and ultimately claim reparations, meaning payments that will come from the aggressor country, as soon as the appropriate mechanism is launched.

Of course, you should not expect financial assistance to be transferred to your bank account tomorrow. Still, it is worth documenting your suffering and losses now to establish a solid legal basis for your claim. Each application records the loss and damage caused.

What injuries are subject to recording?

Not every minor injury or scratch is eligible for inclusion in this program. We are talking about the severe consequences of war for the health and lives of civilians. Here is a list of categories that can be recorded in the RD4U registry:

• Serious bodily injuries. This includes loss or significant damage to limbs or organs, as well as substantial changes in appearance after an injury, and partial or complete loss of bodily functions. Such injuries often lead to disability.
  
• Psychological trauma. If the war has taken a toll on your mental health – acute stress, disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. – this is also a valid reason to consider a person sick as a result of Russian aggression. 
• Sexual violence and captivity. This includes cases of sexual violence, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as unlawful deprivation of liberty (captivity). Those who had to endure these horrors have the full right to compensation. 
• Forced labor or service. If the occupying forces forced you to work or serve them against your will, this is also considered a separate category of harm. 
• Forced abortion. A tragic case of a woman losing her child due to direct military action or violence. Such a fact falls under the category of serious harm to health.

Damage can be documented regardless of the location. Even if the accident occurred during the occupation or fighting in the occupied territory, it is necessary to apply. The register covers all events starting from February 24, 2022. This is the basis for social support for victims.

The register is open not only to civilians. A military person who has received physical or psychological injuries can also apply.

Where to apply: electronic submission through “Diia”

The next question: Where to take your certificates, evidence, photos, and pain experienced? No need to run around the offices. The entire procedure is available online, through the state electronic service “Diia”. An international register is integrated into it. It is advisable to collect the most complete package of evidence:

• Medical certificates of injuries or treatment;
• Excerpts from medical institutions;
• Certificates of disability (if established);
• Photos and videos from the scene of the incident or your injuries;
• Written testimonies of eyewitnesses;
• Receipts and bills for medications, prosthetics, or other medical treatments.

Describe the situation in detail in your own words. Indicate when, where, and under what circumstances the event that happened to you occurred – provide all the details that you remember. The more detail you can provide, the better.

How to submit an application: step-by-step instructions

The procedure for applying to the electronic service:

• Register or log in to your profile on the state portal “Diia.”
• Open the “Services Catalog” section and find the specialized section “Reparations: International Registry of Damages for Ukraine (RD4U)”.
• Choose the category that most accurately matches your situation (mental or physical health, disability). If you have several types of damage, you must submit separate applications for each.
• Indicate in detail the date and circumstances under which the damage was caused, describe everything in detail, and attach all available evidence (medical documents, photos, videos, checks, etc.).
• If you do not have documents or photos, still describe what happened and how you were injured. This is important for recording.
• Sign the application with an electronic signature (e.g., BankID) and send it. Then all that remains is to wait for the decision and follow the notifications in “Diia” and by email regarding the status of your case.

The application will be considered by a special international commission, which must determine the amount of financial compensation in your case. But do not expect quick payments. The register serves exclusively as a legal basis for the future collection of reparations. It will be possible to receive funds only when the international compensation mechanism is fully operational, or when payments from confiscated Russian assets begin. 

You will have to be patient and “wait”, but you can be sure that your application will not be forgotten: you will regularly receive notifications about changes in the status of the case in “Diia” and by email.

 

Adapted: Olena Sharhorodska

Read more — War has transformed the labor market: what jobs are now in demand