The Devastating Reality of War in Ukraine and the Imperative of Reparations

Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine has led to widespread death and suffering. There are thousands of recorded instances of torture, inhumane treatment and sexual violence, on the other side of this the atrocities, is the destruction of property, with vast swathes of Ukrainian residential buildings and civilian infrastructure across the country destroyed by Russian artillery, as well as immense economic losses, with the Register of Damage for Ukraine working hard to document and categorise these claims. As it marks 10,000 submissions to its register of damages, last month, the scale of the destruction in Ukraine is almost unfathomable, and the path to delivering reparations for victims, survivors and ordinary Ukrainians who have suffered property damage as a result of this conflict, a lengthy process. The establishment of the Register of Damage for Ukraine marked as significant milestone in filing this justice gap when it launched on  2 April 2024; with significant international effort and the first step towards a mechanism that will ensure justice and compensation for Ukraine and its people. With the Register of Damages now marking over 10,000 claims submitted to the Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) for damage or destruction of residential housing – we are...