Ukrainians have already filed 135,000 reports of damaged or destroyed housing

05/ 05/ 2022

The total area of destroyed or damaged housing has reached 9 million 401 thousand meters. Ukraine plans to start a compensation process as soon as possible without waiting for international courts to decide on reparations. This was stated by Olena Shulyak, Chairperson of the Servant of the People Party, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning with whom the European Business Association met on May 4. All branches of government have focused their efforts on helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces and working with international partners. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to plan the post-war development of the country. The business community agrees with Olena that we need to talk about Ukraine’s reconstruction now despite the ongoing fierce hostilities. The rebuilding plan should imply the creation of conditions for the return of nearly 10 million Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people - it is about housing, jobs, and economic recovery. The government has already allocated over 1bn dollars for the swift restoration of the de-occupied regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Zhytomyr. These funds are used primarily to clear mines, restore transport links (by clearing roads, building temporary bridges, restoring electricity, gas, and water networks), and make necessary repairs such as replacing windows and restoring roofs. The issue of housing renovation was also discussed with the President, in particular the need for new approaches to urban planning, new requirements for building materials, infrastructure development, energy efficiency, and safety measures in the design of future residential buildings and neighborhoods. New residential, communal, and commercial buildings are to be constructed in compliance with new safety requirements and the compulsory planning of bomb shelters; the construction of permanent shelters next to the old housing stock is also being considered. There is already interest and willingness from countries and cities around the world to help with the reconstruction of different regions of Ukraine. The most pressing issue on the agenda is housing compensation for Ukrainians. Since the state will not wait for reparation payments to start this process, the compensation will be primarily available for individuals with Ukrainian citizenship. There will also be a second priority, which will include businesses and legal persons with the lost, destroyed, or damaged property. But anyway, physical persons are now the priority. In particular, multi-child families, people with disabilities, and combatants. To that end, the Parliament passed draft law No.7198 at first reading. This document provides for compensation for housing and unfinished construction in meters of living space rather than in money terms. It would be possible to choose a developer, a facility, and even another equivalent locality. Financial compensation will be provided to repair damaged housing that can be repaired. Compensation commissions will be established, and the mechanism for obtaining compensation is provided in several steps: an application, its consideration by the commission, examination and evaluation, issuance of conclusions, and compensation payment. However, there may still be amendments and improvements to the draft law. The approved mechanism will be announced later. We thank Ms. Shulyak for the dialogue with the business community. The EBA is preparing its proposals and comments on these initiatives and it is ready to support the state in the post-war development of Ukraine!

All branches of government have focused their efforts on helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces and working with international partners. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to plan the post-war development of the country. The business community agrees with Olena that we need to talk about Ukraine’s reconstruction now despite the ongoing fierce hostilities. The rebuilding plan should imply the creation of conditions for the return of nearly 10 million Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people – it is about housing, jobs, and economic recovery.

The government has already allocated over 1bn dollars for the swift restoration of the de-occupied regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Zhytomyr. These funds are used primarily to clear mines, restore transport links (by clearing roads, building temporary bridges, restoring electricity, gas, and water networks), and make necessary repairs such as replacing windows and restoring roofs.

The issue of housing renovation was also discussed with the President, in particular the need for new approaches to urban planning, new requirements for building materials, infrastructure development, energy efficiency, and safety measures in the design of future residential buildings and neighborhoods. New residential, communal, and commercial buildings are to be constructed in compliance with new safety requirements and the compulsory planning of bomb shelters; the construction of permanent shelters next to the old housing stock is also being considered. There is already interest and willingness from countries and cities around the world to help with the reconstruction of different regions of Ukraine.

The most pressing issue on the agenda is housing compensation for Ukrainians. Since the state will not wait for reparation payments to start this process, the compensation will be primarily available for individuals with Ukrainian citizenship. There will also be a second priority, which will include businesses and legal persons with the lost, destroyed, or damaged property. But anyway, physical persons are now the priority. In particular, multi-child families, people with disabilities, and combatants.

To that end, the Parliament passed draft law No.7198 at first reading. This document provides for compensation for housing and unfinished construction in meters of living space rather than in money terms. It would be possible to choose a developer, a facility, and even another equivalent locality. Financial compensation will be provided to repair damaged housing that can be repaired. Compensation commissions will be established, and the mechanism for obtaining compensation is provided in several steps: an application, its consideration by the commission, examination and evaluation, issuance of conclusions, and compensation payment. However, there may still be amendments and improvements to the draft law. The approved mechanism will be announced later.

We thank Ms. Shulyak for the dialogue with the business community. The EBA is preparing its proposals and comments on these initiatives and it is ready to support the state in the post-war development of Ukraine!