Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation allowing occupation administrations in captured parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts to confiscate residential property designated as "ownerless," according to The Moscow Times.
The law applies to homes, apartments and individual rooms where ownership "cannot be established" or where "valid documents" confirming ownership are absent. Confiscated property will be transferred to occupation administrations, with the provisions remaining in effect until 2030.
Russia's State Duma and Federation Council approved the amendments to Federal Constitutional Law on 9 and 10 December, RBC-Ukraine reports citing Russian media sources.
Under the new rules, seized housing can be allocated to local residents who lost homes during combat operations, or used as official accommodation for civil servants, military personnel, law enforcement officers, teachers and medical workers. The law also permits renting out confiscated properties under Russia's Housing Code or placing individuals officially registered as needing housing through social rental agreements.
If owners appear after confiscation, they will receive monetary compensation—but only if they hold Russian citizenship. Occupation administrations will determine the compensation procedure.
Earlier this fall, Russian forces declared at least 25,000 real estate objects in occupied territories as "ownerless," Donbas.Realities, a Radio Liberty project, reported.
In October, the Russian government officially authorized appropriation of property belonging to Ukrainians in occupied areas. That decision formalized occupation administrations' authority to designate residential and commercial premises as "ownerless" and transfer them to state ownership.
