On 23–24 October, Kyiv hosted the regional forum “Responding to War Damage: Building Partnerships among Frontline Communities”, organised by the Register of Damage, jointly with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The event brought together over 170 representatives of local executive authorities – regional and district military administrations, local self-government bodies, civil society and human rights organisations from nine frontline regions: Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv.
The forum aimed to strengthen partnerships among communities, state institutions, international structures and civil society in assisting those affected by the war, as well as to raise awareness of the Register of Damage for Ukraine – the first element of the future international compensation mechanism designed to ensure compensation for losses caused by Russia’s aggression.
During the event, participants discussed key issues – from access to restorative justice and legal aid for victims to information and awareness-raising efforts at the local level. IOM representatives presented findings from consultations with victims, including those affected by conflict-related sexual violence, while communities shared their experiences in providing local support to affected populations.
A special focus was given to discussions on the current situation in the frontline regions. Representatives of regional and district military administrations, local councils and regional NGOs outlined the types of damage most typical for their territories, identified vulnerable groups of claimants most in need of technical and legal assistance when submitting claims to the Register, and shared ideas on effective methods and approaches to promote the Register among the population.
In his address, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, Executive Director of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, emphasised that the Register’s current priority is completing technical solutions, opening new claim categories, and supporting claimants:
“We are working to launch 30 claim categories by the end of this year and all 43 by the end of the first quarter of 2026. But technical progress is only part of our work. The most important thing is people. We must help everyone affected to take their step toward justice. Submitting a claim is not just a formality – it is a personal testimony that becomes a building block in creating the future compensation mechanism.
Russia must be held accountable for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. Monetary compensation cannot restore lives, homes or peace of mind, but it will enable people to rebuild their lives after the war. And the path to that lies through the Register and the future international compensation mechanism”.
Dejan Keserovic, Deputy Chief of Mission of IOM Ukraine, stressed the need for continued cooperation among international partners, state institutions and local communities: “The voices of those affected by the war must be heard. Only through cooperation and knowledge sharing can we achieve justice and help communities recover with dignity.”
The two-day program featured panel discussions, interactive small-group sessions and presentations of joint outcomes. Participants developed proposals to strengthen communication among local authorities, civil society organisations and the Register of Damage, and to enhance technical and legal support for citizens preparing to submit claims.
The International Register of Damage highly values the participants’ engagement, openness and readiness for cooperation. Meetings like this help build a shared vision of the way forward and strengthen partnerships aimed at restoring justice and supporting those affected by the war
