I have neither a homeland nor a flag left”

“I have neither a homeland nor a flag left”

Millions of Ukrainians have fled the war to other regions of the country and abroad. The authorities in Ukraine’s occupied territories have begun disposing of homes that were left behind — in Russian legislation, they are called “ownerless” housing, or “beskhoz” for short.

In December 2025, such houses and apartments began to be recognized as municipal property without a court ruling.

Many Ukrainians do not want to or cannot return to their cities to claim their housing rights. But even those who specifically traveled to the Russian-occupied regions, obtained Russian citizenship, or still have close relatives there may lose their real estate.

This problem is most acute for residents of Mariupol, where almost 13,000 apartments and houses have already been included on lists of housing with signs of being “ownerless.”

Verstka spoke with the owners of “ownerless” properties, looked into who may lose their home in occupied cities, and whether there is any chance of getting it back.

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