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Register of Damage for Ukraine

Register of Damage for Ukraine

  • Homepage
  • SUBMIT A CLAIM
  • Claims Processing
  • FAQ
    • Back
    • General
    • A1.1 Involuntary internal displacement
    • A2.1 Death of an immediate family member
    • A2.2 Missing immediate family member
    • A2.3 Serious personal injury
    • A2.4 Sexual violence
    • A2.5 Torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
    • A2.6 Deprivation of liberty
    • A2.7 Forced labour or service
    • A3.1 Damage or destruction of residential immovable property
    • A3.2 Damage or Destruction of Non-Residential Immovable Property
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You are here:
  1. Register of Damage for Ukraine
  2. FAQ
  3. A2.1 Death of an immediate family member

A2.1 Death of an immediate family member

Can I submit a claim in this category?

You can submit a claim in this category if:

(a) an immediate family member lost their life, or another family member lost their life and you have a legitimate interest to submit a claim;

(b) the death was as a result of Russia’s full‑scale invasion starting on 24 February 2022; and

(c) the death occurred within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine, including the temporarily occupied territories and the territorial waters, or the death was directly linked to an event that occurred in Ukraine’s territory.

What can I claim under this category?

You can submit a claim for mental pain and anguish that you suffered due to your family member’s death.

Is this category also for financial losses from the death?

No, if your claim also relates to other losses, such as loss of income or support, you should submit a claim in category A3.7.

What does “an immediate family member” mean for this category?

You are an immediate family member for this category if you are the deceased’s:

(a) parent (biological, legally recognised adoptive parent, or stepparent, meaning the spouse of a parent);

(b) partner (spouse by legal marriage, or civil partnership); or

(c) child (biological, legally recognised adopted child, or stepchild, meaning the child of a spouse or civil partner).

You may be considered a civil partner, regardless of gender, if at the time of the death you:

(a) maintained a long-term close relationship with the deceased;

(b) lived and maintained a household together with the deceased;

(c) had common major expenditures with the deceased;

(d) provided to and received assistance from the deceased; and/or

(e) maintained other elements of a family relationship.

How can I prove my civil partnership with the deceased?

You can prove the existence of your civil partnership by submitting various types of evidence, for example:

(a) court decisions;

(b) wills and certificates of inheritance;

(c) proof of co-habitation;

(d) financial records (joint bank accounts, joint credit card statements, contracts, bank guarantees, shared bills, or evidence of shared expenses);

(e) correspondence addressed to both individuals at the same address (letters, packages, or official documents);

(f) social media and digital presence (public digital presence as a couple such as joint social media accounts, shared photos, status updates, or online interactions);

(g) photos and videos;

(h) healthcare and insurance records (listing as emergency contacts, beneficiaries, or dependants); and

(i) documents demonstrating the right of either partner to receive the other’s pension or benefits upon death.

This list is not exhaustive.

I am not an immediate family member of the deceased person as defined for this category. However, the deceased and I were very close. Can I submit a claim?

You can submit a claim for the death of such a family member if you demonstrate that you have a legitimate interest in such submission. This means that your relationship must go beyond normal ties of affection. You should submit evidence proving:

(a) your family relationship with the deceased;

(b) your particularly close ties with the deceased; and

(c) elements of dependence with the deceased.

Examples of evidence include:

(a) court decisions;

(b) wills and certificates of inheritance;

(c) proof of co-habitation;

(d) family registration records;

(e) financial records (joint bank accounts, joint credit card statements, contracts, bank guarantees, shared bills, evidence of shared expenses);

(f) correspondence addressed to both individuals at the same address (letters, packages, or official documents);

(g) social media and digital presence (public digital presence such as joint social media accounts, shared photos, status updates, or online interactions);

(h) photos and videos;

(i) healthcare and insurance records (listing as emergency contacts, beneficiaries, or dependants); and

(j) documents demonstrating the right of either family member to receive the other’s pension or benefits upon death.

This list is not exhaustive.

Do I have to submit an ID document of my deceased family member?

You should submit one or more ID documents if you have them. You can also provide any ID number of the deceased family member if you know it.

If you do not have this information, you can still submit a claim.

I have more than one immediate family member who died. Should I submit one claim or separate claims?

You should submit separate claims, one for each death that has caused you mental pain and anguish.

Another relative is submitting a claim under this category. Should I submit my own claim too?

Yes, you should submit a claim for your own mental pain and anguish caused by the death of your family member.

My family member who died was in the military, territorial defence, or law enforcement. Can I still submit a claim?

Yes, you can submit a claim even if the deceased was involved in the war or maintained law and order. A future compensation commission could potentially take this into account when deciding on your claim.

My family member died outside of Ukraine. Can I still submit a claim?

Yes, if the death was directly linked to an event that occurred in Ukraine.

However, the claim must also meet other eligibility criteria – the death must occur on or after 24 February 2022, and be caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

How can I demonstrate that my family member’s death was caused by Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine?

You should provide as much information as possible about the event that caused the death, including (if known) the date, location, and what happened. You should also provide any relevant documentation you have, such as a death certificate, police report, or other evidence concerning the event that caused the death.

Do I need to determine how much mental pain and anguish I have suffered because of my family member’s death?

No, you are not required to provide your own or an expert’s assessment of your mental pain and anguish, or any other evidence of this.

For field 29 of the Claim Form, my deceased family member did not belong to one of the listed groups (member of the military, territorial defence, law enforcement, emergency/utilities/critical infrastructure worker, or medical personnel). Can I still submit a claim?

Yes. You need to fill in the relevant column only if your deceased family member belonged to one of these groups.

My deceased family member was convicted of a crime in relation to Russian aggression against Ukraine, or was subject to sanctions or other equivalent measures imposed by a government or an international organisation. Can I still submit a claim?

Yes. However, you should supply relevant information in the field provided.

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