Lawyer explains importance of submitting as many claims as possible to International Register of Damages

This was stated by lawyer and expert Yevhen Hilin in an interview with Ukrinform.

“The International Register of Damages is, in our opinion, currently the most promising mechanism for obtaining compensation for damages caused by military aggression,” Hilin said.

He urged Ukrainians affected by the war, not just those from the south, to submit claims to the International Register of Damages.

“This is very important. Currently, the International Register of Damages has received only about 20,000 claims. However, when this mechanism was launched, it was expected that over 10 million claims would be submitted,” the lawyer noted.

Hilin emphasized that the process of submitting claims for damages caused by the war is important not only for the affected citizens of Ukraine but also for the international community. If negotiations about the reconstruction of Ukraine take place in the future, having a clear and extensive database of the damages will play a key role.

In his view, if the number of submitted claims turns out to be low, it could create a false impression of a lack of public interest in compensation mechanisms. In this case, international partners might consider the issue of damages compensation not a priority for Ukrainians, which could potentially affect future decisions and resources allocated for this process. Therefore, it is crucial that as many affected citizens as possible take the opportunity to submit the relevant claims.

The expert also advised seeking consultations with lawyers who provide such services for free.

As reported by Ukrinform, starting from January 16, 2025, Ukrainians gained the opportunity to submit claims to the International Register of Damages for reparations from Russia for the loss of a loved one. The procedure is not technically complicated, but it requires patience to complete.