Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
March 30, 2026 Humanitarian aid
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is helping Ukrainians restore common areas in war-damaged apartment buildings. This allows families to qualify for state compensation and begin rebuilding their homes.
Since 2023, UNHCR has carried out or supported renovations in over 100 apartment buildings. As a result, over 7,500 families have become eligible to apply for compensation under the state-run "iVidnovlennia" program.
Removing barriers
According to the regulations, apartment owners can apply for compensation only after common areas—such as roofs, stairwells, entryways, or windows—have been restored and deemed safe. In many war-damaged buildings, the cost of repairing these spaces is prohibitive for local residents.
UNHCR is removing this barrier to receiving payments. Repairs are carried out both by contractors and by providing building materials to local authorities, complementing the efforts of residents themselves.
In 2025 alone, the UN Office provided repair assistance in the Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv regions, enabling more than 1,700 families (3,250 people in total) to apply for compensation.
An integrated approach
This activity is part of a wider approach aimed at ensuring that internally displaced persons and war-affected Ukrainians can receive payments under the state scheme.
Together with local NGO partners, the Office provides legal consultations, helping people restore their housing, land, and property rights, obtain key documents, confirm ownership, and complete inheritance procedures necessary for filing applications. In 2025, UNHCR provided 39,000 legal consultations, helping Ukrainians navigate procedures and overcome administrative obstacles; over 2,200 cases of restoration of documentation or property rights were successfully resolved.
“Through our comprehensive approach to shelter and protection measures, we ensure that no one is left behind and that people receive the support they need to access the government’s vital compensation programme, which we know is a lifeline for many families whose homes have been damaged by Russian attacks,” said Bernadette Castell-Hollingsworth, spokesperson for UNHCR’s Ukrainian office.
The humanitarian agency also promptly provides people with materials for emergency housing repairs (such assistance has been provided to more than 565,000 people since 2022) and supports major repairs (since 2022, approximately 55,000 homes have been repaired).
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.