On 30 April 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the Convention on the Establishment of the International Compensation Commission for Ukraine. This is a key element of the international compensation mechanism aimed at compensating for damage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
The International Compensation Commission for Ukraine will operate as an independent administrative body within the framework of the Council of Europe and will review claims for compensation for losses, damages, and harm caused by the unlawful actions of the Russian Federation.
The Convention was signed on 16 December 2025 during the Diplomatic Conference in The Hague. The draft law on ratification was prepared by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Justice emphasizes that the establishment of the Commission is a continuation of the development of the international compensation mechanism launched after the full-scale invasion. One of the earlier stages was the creation of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which has been accepting applications from affected individuals since April 2024. Once the Commission becomes operational, every submitted claim will undergo proper legal review.
The Convention will enter into force after at least 25 signatories express their consent to be bound by it. As of now, the document has been signed by 35 states and the European Union. Following the Convention’s entry into force, the composition of the Commission is expected to be formed and its practical work launched. The Commission is expected to begin operations in 2027.
Applications to the Register of Damage for Ukraine are submitted electronically through the Diia web portal. On the RD4U portal, users can get the categories currently open for submitting claims to the Register.
For example, if, due to the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion, you and your family were forced to leave your home or place of residence and relocate elsewhere within Ukraine, or if you were staying in another location in Ukraine and were unable to return to your home or place of residence, you may submit a claim to the Register of Damage under the category of forced internal displacement (A1.1). Applications may be submitted by people who were forced to leave their home or place of residence in any region of Ukraine, including temporarily occupied territories.
The Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) is the first stage of the international compensation mechanism for losses, damages, and harm caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine since 24 February 2022. The Register of Damage was established by Ukraine together with the European Union and 43 other countries. The Register’s headquarters is located in The Hague, the Netherlands.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.