Ukrainians file online compensation claims as register opens for damage caused by war

THE HAGUE, Netherlands —

A register for Ukrainians to seek compensation for damage to their homes as a result of Russia’s invasion opened on Tuesday and more than 100 people filed online claims, ministers attending a conference on justice for Ukraine said.

“It’s a sign of how high the demand is, but it’s also a sign of how thirsty people are for justice,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters.

The Hague-based Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, also known as RD4U, was established by the Council of Europe last year.

The dozens of compensation applications filed Tuesday are the tip of an iceberg. The Council of Europe expects between 300,000 and 600,000 claims. RD4U aims to allow further claims soon, including those related to damage or destruction of Ukrainian critical infrastructure.

The register will not pay out any claims, but is a stepping stone toward an international compensation mechanism that has yet to be established.

As the conference opened with the devastating war sparked by Russia’s invasion in its third year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used a video message to urge delegates to continue efforts to tackle impunity for war crimes in order to “provide real strength to our common security — security from aggressions and terror.”

In a closing declaration, 44 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Germany and France, pledged to work toward establishing a special tribunal for the investigation and prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine where Russian leaders could be prosecuted.

Talks have been going on for months on the form such a tribunal could take in order to ensure Russian leaders cannot claim immunity.

The International Criminal Court does not currently have jurisdiction to prosecute the crime of aggression in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The ICC, however, has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country’s commissioner for children’s rights, charging them with personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. The court also has issued warrants for two senior Russian military officers.

Opening the conference, Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot said the devastating toll of Russian attacks underscored the need to support Ukraine.

“Because if we don’t, the country’s justice system will eventually collapse under the weight of these atrocities,” she said.