Personal injury, violence and forcible transfer

Date, place and connection to the aggression

For these RD4U categories, the event must have occurred on or after 24 February 2022 and resulted from Russia’s internationally wrongful acts in or against Ukraine. A2.3–A2.7 cover events within Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory and territorial waters, and events abroad directly linked to an event in Ukraine. For A2.4–A2.7, the rules also specify acts by persons under Russia’s control. The distinct conditions for forcible transfer and deportation appear below. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

A2.3: serious personal injury

This is an injury causing significant physical or psychological harm or suffering. Examples include significant loss of a bodily function or use of a limb, significant temporary or permanent disfigurement, involuntary termination of pregnancy, or another injury likely to significantly affect quality of life. The definition excludes bruises, simple strains and sprains, minor burns, cuts and wounds, and other conditions not requiring a course of medical treatment. RD4U’s term is distinct from the classification of injury severity in Ukrainian criminal law. ^{[1] [6]}

Medical records are the primary means of establishing seriousness. Prepare discharge records, examination results, treatment plans, rehabilitation records and proof of direct expenses you paid. A forensic report can help but is not a mandatory exclusive form of evidence; war-related disability status is also not a prerequisite for A2.3. Military service does not itself exclude a claim. ^{[1] [6] [7]}

A2.4: sexual violence

This category covers sexual violence against people of any gender or age, including rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilisation and other forms of comparable gravity. An RD4U claim does not require a prior Ukrainian decision recognising survivor status or recognition as a victim in criminal proceedings. The absence of that decision does not remove the other category conditions. ^{[2] [8]}

Prepare an account of the circumstances you know and available evidence, such as statements, medical records, official documents or witness evidence. You do not need your own or an expert’s assessment of mental pain and anguish. Serious personal injury caused by the violence, with direct treatment and rehabilitation expenses you incurred, can be claimed within A2.4 or as injury under A2.3. For an initial request for support, first agree a safe consultation channel before sending a full account. ^{[2] [8] [9]}

A2.5: torture or inhuman or degrading treatment

Torture involves intentionally inflicting severe physical or mental pain for a specified purpose, such as obtaining information, punishment, intimidation, coercion or discrimination, by a person exercising authority, power or control, or with their instigation, consent or acquiescence. A2.5 also covers inhuman treatment causing intense physical or mental suffering and degrading treatment that humiliates or debases a person, undermining dignity and self-respect. Both require intentional conduct by a person exercising authority, power or control, or at their instigation or with their consent or acquiescence. You do not need to label every experience as torture to consider this category: describe the conduct and its effects. ^{[3] [10]}

A2.7: forced labour or service

This means labour or service demanded under threat of a penalty and not undertaken voluntarily. Coercion may be physical, psychological or take another form. Military or other public service or labour mandated by Ukrainian law is excluded from this category. Record who compelled you, the work or service demanded, the period and the threatened consequences. ^{[5] [11]}

When more than one type of harm occurred

Diia offers a shared questionnaire for A2.3–A2.7 in which several applicable categories may be selected. The rules distinguish the violations themselves: for example, deprivation of liberty belongs in A2.6 and torture in A2.5. Serious injury caused by violence, captivity or forced labour can be included in the relevant category or A2.3, with its direct expenses. Lost income and other financial consequences belong in other relevant categories. Do not duplicate the same harm as two separate losses. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [7]}

A2.8 and A2.9: forcible transfer or deportation

Forcible transfer means coerced movement from a place of residence to another location within Ukraine; deportation means movement to Russia or another country. It must relate to Russia’s internationally wrongful acts and acts of persons under its control on or after 24 February 2022. These categories cover the transfer or deportation itself; financial consequences belong in separate categories. Registration in the relevant Ukrainian register of deported or forcibly displaced persons is recognised by the rules as establishing that fact; it is not stated to be the only way to prove it. ^[12]

Under RD4U’s rules, the Board assigns A2.8 or A2.9 according to age when the event occurred: a child is someone under 18 unless applicable law provides earlier majority. Diia’s practical entry route differs: parents use A2.8 for a minor child, while a person who was a child then but is now an adult uses the A2.9 service, which automatically accounts for age. Submit one claim per affected person and give accurate birth and event dates. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

Prepare the address before the event, the destination, the circumstances of coercion and available records or witness evidence. If Diia does not display the child, check whether the birth record appears: the parent’s tax number may be missing from it. A2.8 already accepts parental submissions; submission through administrative service centres for children or persons under guardianship or trusteeship is described as a future phase. That is a submission-channel limitation, not a loss of the child’s rights. ^{[13] [12]}

Claims for a child in A2.3–A2.7

As of 16 September 2026, Diia’s A2.3–A2.7 pages permit personal submission from age 18, or from 16 with proven full civil capacity, and parental submission for a minor where the relationship is verified in the civil status register. RD4U’s rules on legal and authorised representatives are broader, but each route depends on its implementation in the service. Do not use another person’s electronic signature; a representative must use the route provided for them. ^{[15] [7] [9] [10] [11] [16]}

Ukrainian procedures and help now

Law No. 4067-IX protecting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence has been in force since 18 June 2025 and covers relevant events from 20 February 2014. It provides for voluntary recognition and urgent interim reparations; entitlement does not depend on a report to law enforcement, participation in a criminal case or conviction of the perpetrator. Receiving interim reparations does not waive the right to seek full reparation later. ^[17]

Resolution No. 811, adopted on 4 June 2026, establishes the recognition and interim reparations procedure and enters into force on 27 September 2026. It therefore is not yet effective as of 16 September. Available psychological, social and legal support need not wait for this procedure. For advice on violence and assistance, the government’s 1547 line is free and available around the clock in Ukraine; legal advice is also available through the free legal aid system. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

Law No. 4071-IX and Resolution No. 450 govern Ukraine’s system for recording harm to life and health caused by the aggression from 19 February 2014. They provide for records to be added in stages, data exchange with state registers and access or additions through specified channels subject to technical availability. Recording information there does not replace an RD4U claim or itself award a payment. If a death, disability or other underlying record is wrong, begin with the authority responsible for that record; for adding or correcting this system’s information, ask an administrative service centre or the Pension Fund about the available channel under Procedure No. 450. ^{[21] [22]}

Next step

Choose the official service for the relevant category, preserve available evidence and separately note what is missing. For A2.3–A2.7, complete Diia’s questionnaire, check the categories selected and sign the claim. For advice, begin with the type of question and a safe way to contact you. Recording an RD4U claim is not a decision on the compensation amount or payment date. ^{[23] [7] [2] [20]}