Obtaining the status of a person affected by the Chornobyl disaster when primary documents are lost
This material provides guidance on the steps to confirm the status of a person affected by the liquidation of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (hereinafter – ChNPP) for individuals who:
- have lost medical documents and access to archives due to displacement from combat zones or temporarily occupied territories;
- have been classified as having a disability “due to a general illness”;
- have experienced a significant deterioration in health.
It is advisable to begin by obtaining documents confirming participation in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chornobyl accident and evidence of health damage.
Step 1. Obtain сopies of archival certificates
From the Sectoral State Archive of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
What information to request? You need to obtain a certified copy of an archival certificate indicating the level of radiation exposure. Use the request form available on the archive’s official website.
Where to send the request? Send the request by email to the SSA MoD at [email protected].
How to receive a response? The response will be sent by registered mail to the postal address indicated by the applicant in the request.
Important: Be sure to include your postal address and mobile phone number in the request.
From the National Social Service of Ukraine regarding archival certificates.
What information to request? You need to obtain a copy of the archival certificate specifying the received radiation exposure.
Where to send the request? The request can be sent to [email protected] or through the electronic form available on the NSSSU website.
How to receive a response? The response will be sent by registered mail to the postal address provided by the applicant.
Important: Always indicate your postal address and contact phone number in the request.
Step 2. Obtain Archival Medical Records
What information to request? Request certificates from medical institutions with references to relevant medical archive data.
Where to send the request? Send a written request by email or postal mail to the medical institution where you received treatment or examinations (addresses can be found via search engines).
How to receive a response? The response will be sent by registered mail to the postal address indicated in your request.
Important: It is not possible to receive a response if the medical institution is located in an occupied area or in a zone of active hostilities.
Step 3. Obtain an Expert Evaluation Report
What information to request? Request an expert report linking the illness to the performance of military duties related to the liquidation of the Chornobyl accident.
Who to contact? Contact your family doctor or a specialized attending physician to prepare medical documentation and summaries required for an assessment by the expert evaluation team. The team will assess your daily functioning to determine whether there is a causal link between your illness or disability and exposure to ionizing radiation or other harmful factors resulting from the Chornobyl accident.
What is the outcome? The expert team evaluates the person’s condition and decides on the establishment of disability, its cause, and the need for medical, rehabilitation, social, educational, and other services. If needed, they issue electronic referrals for additional examinations.
How to obtain the report? The conclusion (an extract from the decision) of the expert team assessing the person’s daily functioning is provided directly to the patient or their legal representative.
Step 4. Obtain a Certificate of Disability Caused by War
What to request? Recognition of the status of a person with a disability caused by war.
Who to contact?
Online: Go to the Diia portal, log in using your qualified electronic signature (QES), and complete the application for obtaining the status. If you need to create an electronic signature, refer to the guide “How to Create an Digital Signature.”
In person: Apply to the local Department of Social Protection at your place of registration with a written application and supporting documents.
What documents to submit? Attach a copy of your passport, identification code, and the expert evaluation team’s conclusion on daily functioning to your application.
What is the outcome? The Department of Social Protection reviews the application and makes a decision to grant the status, based on which a certificate of disability caused by war and a badge of honor are issued.
How to receive the certificate? The applicant may receive the physical certificate and badge in person, through a legal representative, or by registered mail to the address indicated in the application. In digital form, the applicant can generate an electronic veteran’s ID through the Diia mobile application.
If you require legal consultation or assistance with obtaining the status of a person with a disability caused by war, you can schedule an online consultation with a lawyer.
This informational material was created within the framework of a project implemented by Charitable Foundation “Caritas Mariupol” in cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and funded by the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) 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.
