Issues of Compensation for Damages Caused to a Citizen as a Result of Armed Aggression: riminal and Procedural Aspects

Abstract

Current issues of reparation for damages caused to Ukraine by Russia armed aggression: a full-scale war, unprecedented (compared to the Second World War and the rest of the wars of the 21st century) in scope, cruel in essence, genocidal in purpose, devastating in means and consequences are considered. One of consequences of war and war crimes committed by Russian aggressors starting from February 24, 2022, is massive destruction and damage to housing and other property of Ukrainian citizens. Within framework of initiated criminal proceedings, damages are compensated by filing a civil lawsuit. However, specifics of the grounds of such a lawsuit cause the occurrence of certain risks for the victim, as well as problems with law enforcement and the exercise of their powers by investigators and prosecutors. In particular, difficulties may lie in the impossibility of inspecting the scene of the incident, which will ultimately negatively affect the determination of the amount of damage caused (calculation of the material equivalent of the damage). Determining the amount of damage caused as a result of the destruction or destruction of housing is also problematic, as it often requires the appointment of an expert opinion, while the scale of the destruction within the state makes it impossible to conduct such an expert opinion in a reasonable time. Attention is focused on the issues of establishing the person who should be responsible for the claim, or the civil defendant. Possibility of overcoming the jurisdictional immunity of Russia as a defendant in the declared civil lawsuits was also considered. Conducted research made it possible to formulate proposals on mechanism of compensation for the damage caused, as well as on improvement of current criminal procedural legislation of Ukraine.