Russia to face mass civil action from U.S., UK lawyers in effort to compensate Ukrainian war victims

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Russia, Ukraine war civil action overview: 

• Who: Hundreds of lawyers plan a mass civil legal action against the Russian state; its private military contracts, such as the Wagner Group; and businesspeople who support the war against Ukraine. 
• Why: Lawyers seek compensation for Ukrainian victims of the war, including those who have lost loved ones or property or who have been injured. 
• Where: The mass civil action is in regard to the current war in Ukraine. 

A mass civil action is planned against the Russian state, its private military contractors, such as the Wagner Group, and business people that support the war against Ukraine. 

Ukrainian and international lawyers launched the action, which seeks compensation for millions of Ukrainian war victims, The Guardian reported. 

Hundreds of lawyers, including those from the United States and the United Kingdom, are working together to file the mass civil legal action. 

The action is expected to target Russian assets that have already been hit with sanctions, as well as ones that have so far been able to remain under the radar, The Guardian reported. 

The lawyers plan judgments in the U.S. and UK to enable Russian asset seizure around the world. 

While the civil action will be private and independent of the Ukraine state, lawyers will need the besieged country to provide access to intelligence and evidence, The Guardian reported. 

Ukraine’s MP Serhiy Taruta reportedly supports the civil action, telling The Guardian he plans to help by facilitating meetings between the lawyers, investigators and Ukrainian officials. 

Ukraine has already begun prosecuting Russians for alleged war crimes, including sentencing a 21-year-old soldier to life in prison earlier this month for shooting and killing an unarmed civilian. 

Ukrainian civil action to benefit war victims who lost loved ones, property

The civil action will primarily benefit Ukrainian war victims who have either lost a loved one, lost property or who themselves have been injured during the conflict, The Guardian reported.

State and local institutions will be next to benefit from any compensation earned, followed lastly by businesses. 

Taratua told The Guardian he estimates the total monetary amount of the claims would be at least $1 trillion. 

A number of investigators have reportedly joined the mass civil action effort and are working to locate business people believed to be complicit with the Russian state in its war effort against Ukraine. 

Lawyers will reportedly have an easier time going after Russian assets if they are able to show that the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine is not only an act of aggression but also can be legally defined as a terroristic act, according to The Guardian. 

Earlier this month, Top Class Actions reported a class action lawsuit could be filed against UK Home Secretary Priti Patel after visa application delays left Ukrainians stuck in the war-torn country. 

Have you been affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine? Let us know in the comments. 

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