The Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) and the Council of Europe’s Congress held an event in Kyiv to kick off preparations for an awareness campaign aimed at involving representatives of Ukrainian cities and regions in promoting RD4U's mandate and the process of submitting claims to the Register. This initiative, coordinated through the Register’s Office in Kyiv, will engage a wide range of stakeholders, particularly local and regional authorities, and their associations.
On 18 June 2024, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori opened his two-day visit to Kyiv with an information session for Ukrainian local and regional authorities, dedicated to operations of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. He highlighted the vital role played by local and regional authorities in feeding into the Register due to their proximity to citizens. “They are therefore able to raise awareness about the Register’s mandate among the population and support them in submitting claims,” he underlined in his opening remarks.
"The Register of Damage for Ukraine is the first step towards an international compensation mechanism that will ensure justice and compensation for Ukraine and its people. In April 2024, the Register opened for the submission of claims in a first category, related to damage and destruction of residential property. We have so far received a few thousand claims. Several categories of claims, open to individuals, legal entities, and the State of Ukraine, will be launched soon. Other categories will be launched throughout the year. Our extensive outreach programme, implemented through the RD4U Kyiv Office, will rely on local and regional authorities as key partners in disseminating information about the Register’s work and the claims submission process. This will facilitate to enable an accessible environment for all claimants seeking compensation for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine," stated RD4U Executive Director Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi.
“I commend the extraordinary courage and dedication of Ukrainian local and regional authorities who have been steadfast in supporting their communities since the beginning of Russian aggression. Their role is crucial in disseminating information about the Register of Damage for Ukraine and the process of submitting claims. I strongly encourage them to continue this vital work and to take advantage of the opportunity to submit claims in the available categories for the benefit of their communities,” added Secretary General Mathieu Mori.
The Register of Damage for Ukraine is mandated to record claims for damages, losses, and injuries caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The Council of Europe established the Register as an enlarged partial agreement, announcing it at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023. To date, forty-three states and the European Union have joined the Register. RD4U has its headquarters in The Hague (Netherlands) and an office in Kyiv.
The information session took place in Kyiv with the participation of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress and representatives of the national associations of local and regional authorities in Ukraine. It was organised as part of the project “Strengthening multi-level governance, democracy and human rights at local level in Ukraine” implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026.
