The Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (RD4U) is proud to announce a major milestone in its mission to address the consequences of the war and bring justice and reparations to Ukraine and its people. On 2 April 2024, RD4U will officially open the claims submission process for compensation of damage, loss or injury caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The historic launch will take place in The Hague as part of the Ministerial Conference "Restoring Justice for Ukraine", in the presence of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, heads of international organisations, ministers and senior officials from more than 60 states, underlining the global support for Ukraine's quest for justice and reparation.
The RD4U Board decided to open the Register for the submission of claims, evidence and related information after confirming that the formal and technical framework is in place. This step follows the approval by the Conference of Participants of RD4U of the rules and regulations of the Register, including the rules for the submission, processing and recording of claims and the list of categories of claims eligible for inclusion in the Register.
“Our decision to start the process of submission of claims is an important first step in this process. Success moving forward will require continued support from all stakeholders. The Register of Damage for Ukraine will continue its work with dedication and resolve to deliver justice to the Ukrainian people in conformity with its mandate”, said the Chair of the Board, Robert Spano.
The initial launch on 2 April will focus on one critical category, namely damage or destruction of residential property. The destruction of homes in war has an immense impact on people's lives. Between 300,000 and 600,000 claims are expected in this category. The claim form for submission of this category of claims has also been approved.
Looking ahead, RD4U plans to launch additional categories in the near future, with a particular focus on claims from individuals who have been most affected by the war, as well as claims related to damage or destruction of Ukraine's critical infrastructure. Other categories will then follow. A phased approach will ensure that the Register can facilitate the efficient submission of claims and prepare its own systems to process and record claims as quickly as possible.
"We are proud of the remarkable progress RD4U has achieved in just nine months since its inception. We will soon begin receiving claims, a milestone that has been made possible by the unwavering commitment and support of the Council of Europe, our Participants and Associate Members, the Board and the Secretariat. As we mark this achievement, we recognise that it's only the beginning. Our focus now shifts to strengthening RD4U's capacity to receive and process claims. The Register is committed to being at the heart of this effort that will pave the way to a claims mechanism for fair and effective compensation," said the Executive Director of the Register of Damages for Ukraine, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi.
Claims will be submitted to RD4U through the Ukrainian digital system Diia, a mobile application and web portal widely used and trusted by 20 million Ukrainians. This allows the Register to provide an easy, accessible and secure way for claimants to submit claims. In addition, Diia's integration into the extensive infrastructure of digital services and public registries in Ukraine will facilitate claimants' process of collecting evidence to support their claims.
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