What the government decided
The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to transfer state real estate and seized properties managed by the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) for the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The first list includes 112 premises: communal living houses, hotel and office spaces, and public leisure buildings located in various regions of the country.
"The first such list contains 112 premises — these are communal living houses, hotel and office premises, and public leisure buildings. They are located in different regions of the country."
— Yuliia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister (Telegram)
Who the changes affect and when to expect housing
The premises will be distributed to the authorities responsible for IDPs by the end of January 2026. The government expects people will be able to use these premises already in the first quarter of 2026 — provided the transfer is implemented promptly and the necessary works are carried out.
The Ministry of Education and Science has received a separate instruction to review properties that have not been used in the educational process during the past year, so they can also be transferred for IDP resettlement needs.
Transfer mechanism and financial component
The government reminds that a mechanism has already been created to transfer such assets to new managers for 1 hryvnia — this allows spaces to be quickly moved from a legally inactive status to functional use. At the same time, the Cabinet adopted a decision to provide compensation for expenses to institutions that temporarily host internally displaced persons free of charge.
- Under the decision, all ministries, in coordination with state companies, OVAs (regional military administrations) and ARMA, must prepare an additional list of properties for transfer within a month.
- The government previously expanded the "eRecovery" (єВідновлення) program to displaced people whose homes remain in temporarily occupied territories — this will complement the support tools.
Why this matters — rationale for the decision
Redirecting space from non-core and seized assets into housing for IDPs is a way to quickly increase the housing supply without significant upfront capital investments in purchases. For the state, this is a matter of efficiency: existing resources are used instead of creating expensive programs from scratch.
At the same time, success will depend on three key factors: the speed of transfer and repairs, clear rules for managing these properties, and funding for their operation. Analysts working with state assets say that without a clear management plan, risks will lead to delays or poor-quality housing.
What next
Responsibility now lies with local authorities, OVAs, ARMA and the ministries to turn the decision into specific addresses, deadlines and persons responsible. If coordination works, the state will be able to significantly ease the housing crisis for thousands of displaced people during the next year. If not — declarations will remain declarations.
Questions for the government and the public: will it be possible to combine speed and quality in the large-scale transfer of premises — and will there be sufficient oversight so that the premises do not become another "paper" initiative?
