Ukraine is taking a major step toward securing reparations for damages caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022, with the establishment of an International Commission for Compensation for Ukraine. The initiative will be formally launched in The Hague, with senior officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, expected to attend.
The commission represents the second phase of a three-step process to ensure compensation for losses. The first phase, initiated in 2023, established a Damage Registry, which has already collected over 60,000 claims from states, organizations, and individuals. The final phase envisions the creation of a compensation fund, though experts note that this is contingent on Russia’s cooperation.
The commission will review claims documented in the registry and assess the type and scope of potential compensation. Its mandate covers all Ukrainian territory recognized internationally, including Crimea, areas in Donetsk and Luhansk under Russian control, Ukrainian airspace, inland waterways, territorial waters, and Ukrainian aircraft and vessels.
Once operational, the commission will be based in The Hague and structured around three expert panels, with members appointed by participating states. Funding is expected to come from contributions by states party to the convention.
European officials have emphasized that, while reparations are not immediately enforceable, documenting and evaluating claims is essential for future peace agreements and international legal processes. The initiative follows a 2022 United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for mechanisms to address Ukraine’s compensation claims.
