Kyiv residents have been waiting for compensation for homes damaged by shelling for months.

According to ТСН: Russia continues its air attacks on Kyiv. Enemy drones hit residential buildings, which remain without windows for months, while residents await assistance from officials.

Damaged homes and prolonged wait for compensation

City residents complain about the slow response of city services that are supposed to provide assistance in a timely manner.

“Regarding the visit of the commission, I can say from my own experience that after a 'Shahed' hit my mother's house in Troieshchyna on October 26, she waited for the commission that assesses the damage in the apartment for a whole month,” says Kyiv resident Oleg.

Oleg notes that the commission only appeared on November 26.

“After evaluating all the damages, they said to wait for funds from the state for 1-1.5 months. There is still no money on the 'eRecovery' card, and it is unknown when it will arrive. Meanwhile, until the funds arrive, the affected person is not allowed to start repairs, and this is considered illegal,” adds Oleg.

The number of such cases in Kyiv is growing, especially after recent attacks when the enemy specifically targeted multi-storey buildings. People are in despair as they have nowhere to live. Closing broken windows with film or plywood in cold weather is not a solution.

'eSupport': how to use it

Officials announced back in September about the launch of the 'eSupport' chatbot, which helps Kyiv residents receive support and solve problems related to shelling.

By using the chatbot, you can get an action algorithm for registering damage:

1. Document the damage. Take photographs of damaged windows, doors, and walls.

2. Submit an application in “Diia”. In the app or on the “Diia” portal, in the “eRecovery” section, click “Submit an application”. This action can be performed by the owner or co-owner of the property.

3. Contact the police. Submit an application at the operational police headquarters or district police department.

4. Inspection by the commission. Within a few days, a commission will come to draft an inspection report.

5. Receive municipal payment. You can receive up to 10,000 UAH for urgent needs or 40,000 UAH in assistance.

6. Additional payment from deputies. You can receive up to 10,000 UAH, provided that you have an inspection report.

7. Charitable organizations. Vulnerable categories can receive free assistance for windows.

These are the basic steps in case of housing damage, but in practice, the process can be more complicated, especially if, for example, the apartment owner is outside Ukraine.

How many buildings in Kyiv have been damaged by Russian attacks

According to the Kyiv city state administration, 2645 residential buildings have been damaged, of which 67 have significant damage.

These figures may vary, as in December it was reported that 2647 buildings were damaged, including 78 with significant damage.

Vyacheslav Nepop noted that despite the large number of damages, the procedure for their restoration is complex and not simplified.

“Restoration customers are forced to go through all stages, following public procurement legislation,” says Vyacheslav Nepop.

The restoration of the residential fund will continue until 2026, for which more than 1.2 billion UAH is planned.

Damage assessment and restoration process

In the Kyiv city state administration, it was reported that the restoration of residential buildings is proceeding according to the plan approved in April 2022. As of today, 2645 residential buildings have been damaged.

“The main inspections of damaged facilities are carried out with the participation of specialized organizations,” added Boris Rabotnik.

Grounds for refusal of compensation

Grounds for refusal to provide compensation may include:

• loss of the damaged object during capital repairs;

• lack of information about the damaged property in the registry;

• the fact of receiving assistance for repairs.

Validity of the terms for appealing decisions

The applicant has 5 working days to appeal the decisions of the commission, which is extremely important.

Priority in payments

Compensation payments are made in order of priority, and priority is given to combatants, people with disabilities, and large families.

Can you receive compensation if repairs are made at your own expense?

Repairs done at one’s own expense do not deprive the right to compensation under the “eRecovery” program if the corresponding detailed recommendations are followed.

Experts emphasize the importance of documenting all damages and waiting for the commission to arrive.

Experience of international assistance

Experts have gained experience in assistance from international organizations, but life in our country requires ensuring people have everything necessary.

Classification of building damage

Building damages are classified into categories: light, medium, and severe depending on the level of destruction.

The goal — to help the majority

The main goal is to provide assistance to as many people as possible who have been affected by the war.

Why was Kyiv less popular for reconstruction?

Kyiv received less attention from international partners due to issues with recognizing damages. Many people did not want to accept assistance despite urgent needs.