Russian Authorities Seizing Ukrainian Property to Consolidate Occupation

(Tatiana Vorozhko, Victoriia Novikova – The Jamestown Foundation) Many Ukrainian families have fled the occupied territories of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion, fearing child deportations, forced conscription, and the hardships of life under Russian rule, often leaving homes, farms, and businesses behind that the occupation authorities then seize. For some Ukrainians, fleeing with nothing was the only way to save their children; for others, leaving a family member behind seemed the only way to protect what they owned. In December 2025, Putin signed a law allowing occupation authorities to confiscate so-called “ownerless” Ukrainian homes and transfer them without court approval. Russian authorities are attempting to legalize the appropriation of Ukrainian property and use property rights as a tool to reshape the demographic composition of the occupied territories. Ukrainian authorities call these actions an attempt “to legitimize outright looting,” and are working with international partners to create a compensation mechanism for victims. – Russian Authorities Seizing Ukrainian Property to Consolidate Occupation – Jamestown