Register of Damage opens claims to Ukrainian refugees abroad

The Register of Damage for Ukraine, part of an international compensation mechanism within the framework of the Council of Europe, has today opened a new category of claims for those seeking compensation for damage caused by the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine.

Category A1.2, concerning "Involuntary displacement outside of Ukraine", enables people who were forced to leave their home and move abroad as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion, and those who have been unable to return to Ukraine for the same reason, to submit claims for damages.

Ukrainians displaced by war: 6.8 million

Nearly four years after the start of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, more than 6.8 million people remain displaced outside Ukraine, according to the United Nations.

For many, displacement has meant prolonged separation from home, disruption of family life and significant psychological hardship. The opening of Category A1.2 allows people who have been affected to submit claims for the non-material harm suffered as a direct consequence of their involuntary displacement.

People displaced abroad - along with all others who have suffered damage as a result of the war - may also submit claims under the other categories that are currently open in the Register. These cover a wide range of harm, including damage or destruction of property, loss of housing, personal injury, loss of life, missing family members, conflict-related sexual violence, and other serious violations and losses resulting from Russia's aggression.

Those who have been granted temporary protection or asylum by another state as a result of the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion will be considered to have been involuntarily displaced outside Ukraine for the purposes of Category A1.2. This category of claims is now open to Ukrainian nationals and will be extended to people of other nationalities following the completion of the necessary technical arrangements.

Register of Damage expanding claims categories

Category A1.2 is the fifteenth category of claims opened by the Register of Damage. Today's launch, on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, marks a further step in the coordinated international effort to document damage and develop a comprehensive compensation mechanism as a means of reparation.

Established under the auspices of the Council of Europe, the Register of Damage for Ukraine exemplifies the ongoing commitment of the international community to ensure accountability and support victims of the war, as well as the Council of Europe's central role in this global effort.

In December 2025, 35 states and the European Union signed the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, a key element of this compensation framework. Under international law, a state responsible for an "internationally wrongful act" is obliged to make full reparation for the injury caused. The Register constitutes the first operational component of this broader international compensation mechanism.

Statement by the Secretary General on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Register of Damage for Ukraine

Learn more about how the Council of Europe is supporting Ukraine