Policymakers Encouraged to Include Roma in Ukraine’s Reconstruction Plans

Lawmakers have been urged to ensure that reconstruction efforts “reach all Ukrainians affected by Russia’s war, including Roma families who remain largely excluded from compensation and recovery mechanisms.”

The demand was made by the Roma Foundation for Europe, a leading advocate for Roma rights. This is timed to coincide with a meeting of the  Ukraine Recovery Conference in Poland this week.

The Foundation says for many Roma families, defending Ukraine has meant “more than military service.”

Its spokesman said, “It has meant staying put under war-zone conditions.

“Despite repeated shelling, many Roma families have chosen to remain in their communities, repairing damaged homes with plastic sheeting, plywood and improvised materials while continuing to support local economies and maintain a civilian presence in areas targeted by Russian attacks.”

“Russia’s strategy is not only to destroy infrastructure but to make communities unliveable,” added Neda Korunovska, Vice President for Analytics and Results at the Roma Foundation for Europe.

“Thousands of Roma families have refused to abandon their homes despite the danger. The question now is whether Ukraine’s recovery system will recognise and support those who have shown that commitment.”

A 2024 report by the Foundation found that approximately one in four Roma had a family member serving in Ukraine’s armed forces, many of them volunteers despite longstanding cultural traditions against bearing arms and despite experiences of discrimination.

It says Roma are contributing to Ukraine’s defence both on the battlefield and by maintaining communities in areas under constant threat.

“However, recent research conducted by the Foundation highlights significant barriers preventing Roma families from accessing compensation for war-related damage,” it states.

The study, it says, documented 103 Roma families whose homes were damaged by Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa and Kharkiv. Only 4 per cent had received compensation. Eighty-eight per cent had never submitted a claim, largely because they could not meet documentation requirements, it says.

The Foundation says that nearly half lacked the ownership documents required by the Register of Damage, while one-third of affected homes had never been entered into the state property register.

The spokesman said, “Many families were unaware of the legal requirements introduced in 2014 that required the re-registration of ownership. Others could not afford the costs associated with inheritance proceedings and notarisation, which can reach 20,000–30,000 hryvnias (€385 to €584).

“Among them is the Fursenko family from Zaporizhzhia, whose home was damaged by shelling in 2024. Although repairs are estimated to cost 160,000 hryvnias (€3,200), an unresolved inheritance dispute among sixteen heirs prevents the family from accessing compensation.

“We’ve lived here for years. Our ancestors are buried nearby,” said Albina Fursenko. “But without updated documentation, we can’t claim anything.”

The Roma Foundation has now called for reforms to ensure that recovery mechanisms are accessible to all war-affected households. 

These include:

• Accepting alternative forms of proof of ownership, including technical passports, household registers, utility records and statements from local authorities.
• Waiving registration, inheritance and notary fees for households affected by war damage.
• Establishing tailored procedures for properties located in active or recently active combat zones.
• Expanding access to emergency repair support, including materials for roofs, windows and other essential repairs.

“These are not complex reforms,” said Korunovska. “Families first need to be counted. Only then can governments and donors understand the true scale of damage and the resources required for recovery.”

The Foundation warns that the consequences of exclusion can be long-lasting.