Reconstruction progress in Odesa region: сompensation timeline, application process

The special issue of the Urban Reconstruction and Development Program on Espreso discusses how this and other homes in the area are being restored. 

The high-rise building that was hit suffered severe damage, with one section nearly destroyed. However, on December 1, 2023, the Recovery Service began repairs on the building. In just over six months, the workers managed to complete the most challenging tasks. Now, they plan to finish the facades and interior work.

According to the workers, the repairs were difficult because the building had been constructed poorly from the start, requiring not only repairs but also reinforcement. 

Currently, they are painting the walls, laying tiles, and insulating the facade. Many of the workers are residents of the building, including Yevheniia, whose apartment was also destroyed by the missile. She is working on the reconstruction to help her neighbors return to their homes.

The repaired building is expected to be ready by November. Yuliia Poliekhina, a lawyer and documentary filmmaker with the Human Rights Protection Group Sich, shared more information with Espreso about what people should do if their homes are damaged.

Algorithm of actions after shelling

“I’d like to start by emphasizing the importance of ensuring your safety. First, shelling may occur again. We’ve seen this in other communities where, after the first attack, people tried to save the wounded, only for the Russians to strike again. Second, damaged parts of buildings might collapse, or sections of the structure could come loose,” the expert noted.

If it’s safe to be near a damaged building, the lawyer recommends immediately filming the damage, ideally without pauses.

“If that’s not possible, each new video should start from the same spot where the previous one ended. I suggest capturing close-ups of the destruction as well as wider shots to provide context for the location of the Russian attack,” explained Yuliia Poliekhina.

According to her, it’s beneficial to include shots of the sky to illustrate the extent of the destruction. Additionally, it’s advisable to set the location on your device along with the time and record the video with audio commentary.

“When we, as documentarians, go to record a video, we first state our surname, date of work, and the date of the actual filming. It can also be helpful to film neighbors or people who can provide additional information about what happened,” the lawyer clarified.

If someone is in the hospital after the shelling and cannot film the damage to their property, the lawyer advises asking neighbors or close relatives to do so.

"There are very important steps that owners or co-owners of damaged property must take, namely, registering an application with Diia. This can be done through the portal or the mobile app, or at the Administrative Services Center. After a war crime occurs, the police, the State Emergency Service, and an ambulance must arrive at the scene. Law enforcement officers will communicate with the residents of the damaged building,” said Yuliia Poliekhina.

According to the lawyer, the residents need to write a collective statement about the crime. Then, the owner or co-owner of the damaged property should go to the police to obtain an extract from the Unified State Register of Pre-trial Investigations as proof that criminal proceedings have been opened.

Next, representatives from the local government or executive authorities arrive at the scene. They conduct door-to-door visits and document everything in their reports, doing so quite quickly, the lawyer explained.

Programs for compensation applications

Today, local governments are assisting people from their own budgets. This includes construction materials or financial aid, depending on the resources available to the local authorities.

“We have a general program called eRestoration, and I want to highlight it because it is straightforward and easy to understand,” said Yuliia Poliekhina.

This service is available through an application submitted to the State Register of Damaged or Destroyed Property via the Diia portal or app, or through an Administrative Services Center (ASC).

The law states that compensation can be claimed by individuals who are Ukrainian citizens, at least 18 years old, and the owner or co-owner of the damaged property. Proof of ownership is required.

Certain groups have priority for compensation, including veterans, people with war-related disabilities, and large families.

Compensation covers damage to single-family homes, manor houses, summer cottages, garden houses, block houses with separate apartments (like those with their street entrances), and apartments in high-rise buildings. The damage must be documented as requiring current or major repairs. If the document states that the property cannot be restored, then it will not qualify for compensation.

Conditions for receiving compensation

According to the lawyer, the property must have been damaged after February 24, 2022, and must be located in Ukraine - not in an area of active combat actions or under occupation - so it can be inspected.

There are also certain groups of people who cannot receive compensation, including those under sanctions and their legal successors.

This compensation is provided as financial assistance to help purchase construction materials for self-repairs or contracted repairs.

“There are specific institutions that can handle these repairs. A separate account is opened for this purpose, and you cannot withdraw or deposit funds into it,” explained Yuliia Poliekhina.

However, if someone has already done repairs on their own, they can apply to get reimbursed for those costs.

What should owners of destroyed houses do?

According to the lawyer, owners of destroyed houses can seek assistance from their local government, which isresponsible for resettling people. Ukraine also offers an affordable housing loan program called eOselya.

In some communities, temporary housing is provided for those affected. However, it's important to note that owners of destroyed houses cannot use the eRestoration program.

What should homeowners who have lost their documents do?

The expert emphasized that homeowners who lost their documents can still restore them and apply for compensation for their housing. This also applies to those whose documents are in temporarily occupied areas.

"First, you need to restore your ownership documents and passport information. Local authorities can assist with this, including restoring passports and taxpayer registration numbers. I haven't seen cases where someone couldn't restore their documents after a long time," said Yuliia Poliekhina.

Other problems with receiving compensation and how to solve them

"Not all real estate is currently registered in the State Register of Property Rights. Many properties, especially those acquired before 2013, are missing from the registry. This creates a problem with missing data, and ownership documents are required for submission," the lawyer explained.

She advises Ukrainians to update their property information and create notarized copies of their documents. At the very least, take photos of them to make it easier to restore them by their numbers. It’s also a good idea to keep copies of these documents in different places, such as with parents or close friends.

How long does it take to process a compensation application?

According to Yuliia Poliekhina, the priority of applications is automatically determined in the register.

"This priority is based on the right's urgency. The processing time should not exceed 30 calendar days from when the application is submitted to the commission and the data is entered into the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property. If the application is submitted before the commission is formed, the 30-day period starts from the date the commission is established," the lawyer explained.

She also emphasized that if someone feels unsure about using the Diia platform, it’s better to visit the Administrative Services Center, where qualified specialists can help file the compensation application correctly.