The Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) has entered a new phase in documenting the consequences of the Russian Federation's armed aggression. While the mechanism was initially focused primarily on individuals, businesses can now also officially record their losses at the international level. The Register was established under the auspices of the Council of Europe to receive, process, and preserve claims and evidence. At the same time, it is important to understand that the Register is not a court and does not award compensation; rather, it serves as a repository of evidence for a future international compensation mechanism.

Currently, legal entities may submit claims under specific categories, including damage to or destruction of infrastructure and loss of or damage to assets. This is only the initial stage, and additional categories — including loss of control over assets, business relocation, and broader economic losses — will be introduced gradually. One of the key categories for businesses is Category C3.1 “Damage to, destruction of, or loss of assets”, which covers real estate, land, equipment, vehicles, inventories, funds, as well as contractual rights and intellectual property rights. This category also allows companies to claim lost profits, complete loss of business, and other direct costs related to asset losses.

For many companies, submitting a claim to the Register has not only legal but also strategic importance. Losses caused by aggression require proper documentary substantiation. Such evidence may later become the basis for consideration of claims within the framework of an international compensation mechanism. Filing a claim is not merely a technical formality; it is a legally complex process that requires the correct identification of the relevant category, a detailed description of the circumstances of loss, confirmation of ownership rights, proof of the causal link, and preparation of a well-grounded loss calculation. Each element must be properly documented and structured in accordance with the Register’s requirements.

AGA Partners was approached by a group of companies that had lost assets due to Russian aggression. The AGA Partners team provided full legal support in preparing nine claims for submission to the Register. As part of the project, the team identified the relevant claim category, analyzed the circumstances surrounding the loss of assets, developed a structured evidence package, and prepared a list of required supporting documents. Particular attention was paid to the annexes, including proof of ownership, materials confirming the circumstances of loss, criminal proceeding documents, evidence of asset value, and calculations of the claimed losses. This approach ensured that the submissions were complete, logically structured, and clear for further review by the Register.

In addition, the AGA Partners team prepared a step-by-step guide for the Client on submitting claims through the Diia portal, tailored to the specific circumstances of the case. 

As a result, the Client received a complete set of materials, which helped minimize technical challenges, complete the submission process efficiently, and ensure the quality of the evidence package.

Submitting a claim to the Register provides an opportunity to record losses at the international level, preserve evidence, and prepare for the future compensation mechanism. Therefore, the quality of initial preparation is critical already today. AGA Partners continues to assist Ukrainian companies with documenting war-related losses, building evidence packages, and preparing claims for submission to the Register.

The project was handled by Partner Iryna Moroz and Associates Vasyl Radetskyi and Ivan Kuleba, who provided comprehensive preparation and structuring of the document packages required for submission to the Register.