Switzerland joins Register of Damage Caused to Ukraine by Russian Aggression

This is stated on the website of the Swiss government.

"Switzerland's membership of the Register of Damage, soon to be formalized with the Council of Europe, highlights its support for the political process of reconstruction in Ukraine. It initiated this large-scale process in July 2022 in conjunction with the Ukrainian government at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2022 in Lugano," the government said in a statement.

The Register of Damage will document evidence and information about the damage caused to all individuals and legal entities as a result of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The government noted that the register's database contributes to international efforts to restore justice to the victims of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The register will also contribute to the fight against impunity and promote accountability.

The International Register of Damage

On May 17, 2023, the Council of Europe summit signed a declaration on the establishment of a register of damage for Ukraine. Since then, 43 countries and the European Union have joined or declared their intention to join the registry.

Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović-Burić said that "the decision to create a register of damage under the auspices of the Council of Europe is a historic decision." 

According to her, "it will support victims to record their losses and is vital for any compensation mechanism. Supported by a very large coalition of member and non-member states, as well as the EU, it is one of the first legally binding decisions to hold Russia accountable for its acts."

The Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine was established for an initial period of three years. It will operate in the Netherlands, with a satellite office located in Ukraine.

Later, Espreso's Strasbourg correspondent Tetiana Vysotska noted that in a few months, Ukrainian citizens will be able to enter the losses and damages they suffered from the war into the register.

According to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics, as of the end of May 2023, Ukraine's housing stock suffered losses of over USD 54 billion due to Russia's full-scale invasion.

In August, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine was collecting data on the damage caused by Russia for the International Register created in May at the Council of Europe summit. According to him, this is another step toward creating a compensation mechanism.