Starting today, family members who lost a close relative due to Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine may seek compensation for their own mental pain and anguish by submitting a claim to the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (Register) in Claims Category A2.1. This marks a significant step forward in addressing the immense personal suffering caused by Russia’s aggression, providing a pathway for families to seek justice and recognition for their profound loss.
Parents, spouses or civil partners, and children of individuals who died as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 can now submit claims to the Register. Claims by other family members may also be eligible if they can demonstrate a legitimate interest, by proving the existence of close ties and elements of dependence with the family member, as outlined in the Claim Form and Rules for Category A2.1.
The launch of this category was delayed due to the December cyberattack on Ukrainian governmental registries. Although the Register’s systems were unaffected, the attack hindered Claimants from accessing information necessary for the submission of claims to the Register within those Ukrainian databases. The Register plans to resume the submission of claims in category A3.1 (damage or destruction of residential immovable property) as soon as the relevant governmental registries are fully operational. Preparations are being made for the opening of other categories for submission of claims as well.
About Claims Category A2.1
This new category of claims relates to the Claimant’s own mental pain and anguish caused by the death of an immediate family member. Claimants will need to provide information concerning their identity, the identity of the deceased, their relationship with the deceased, and the event leading to the death. A substantial volume of information and evidence will be drawn automatically from various Ukrainian registries and placed at the disposal of Claimants in Diia.
Evidence of financial consequences, such as loss of income or support, is not required for this category. Such claims may instead be addressed under additional categories to be launched in the future.
How to Submit Claims
Claims to the Register can be submitted via the Diia web portal. Diia is a mobile application and portal created by the Government of Ukraine that provides easy, convenient, and secure online access to digital documents and public services for people and businesses in Ukraine. More than 20 million Ukrainians use Diia. Learn more about Diia at www.diia.gov.ua.
All relevant materials for Category A2.1, including the Claim Form, applicable rules, FAQs, and practical instructions for submitting claims, are available on the website of the Register in English and Ukrainian.
Building on Progress
This marks the second category of claims opened by the Register. The first category (A3.1) addresses claims for damage or destruction of residential property. To date, the Register has received nearly 13,000 claims under A3.1, amounting to more than 800 million euro in reported losses. Additional categories of claims are expected to launch soon.
