Who is eligible for housing compensation in the occupied territories?
Recently, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine expanded the eVidnovlennia programme so that internally displaced persons who have combatant status or are disabled due to the war can receive a housing voucher if they have lost their homes in territories occupied by the Russian Federation. It provides for payments of up to UAH 2 million for the purchase of new housing, investment in construction or as a contribution to a mortgage. This decision aims to facilitate IDPs' access to housing programmes and, at the same time, ensure more systematic accounting of citizens' losses.
Who can receive compensation?
The right to compensation will primarily belong to citizens of Ukraine who are registered as IDPs and who are either:
- combatants; or
- persons with disabilities because of the war.
Please note, compensation will not be granted if:
- a person owns other housing (except for mortgaged housing with outstanding payments);
- a person has already received monetary compensation for housing they were entitled to;
- the state has already provided them with permanent housing during their registration as IDPs;
- a person has applied for compensation for destroyed property and/or has already been granted such compensation.
What is the compensation format?
Compensation is provided exclusively in the form of a housing voucher.
A housing voucher is a special electronic payment document that can be directed toward the purchase of housing, the land plot on which the housing is located, or a share of ownership in such property (including as a down payment or loan repayment under a mortgage).
Compensation is provided only once, for UAH 2 million.
The housing voucher is valid for five years.
How to apply for compensation?
An application for compensation can be submitted at the nearest Administrative Services Centre.
It is also planned that the relevant functionality will be available in the Diia app.
To apply, one will need to confirm of:
- registered (declared) place of residence in the occupied territory;
- registration as an IDP;
- combatant status or disability status as a result of the war;
- existing ownership rights to housing (including mortgaged housing with unpaid loans);
- absence of sanctions;
- absence of other housing compensation received.
This publication has been produced as part of a project implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) with funding from the European Union through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the DRC. Neither the European Commission nor the DRC can be held responsible for the content of this material.
