Kursk Residents Demand Tax Relief for War-Destroyed Properties as Bills Keep Coming

Residents of the border region in southwestern Russia’s Kursk area are still receiving tax notifications for homes, vehicles, and land that were destroyed during the Ukrainian invasion last year, as reported by local media on Friday.

A local initiative group from the Korenevsky district has submitted an official request to Kursk region Governor Alexander Khinshtein, asking for a reassessment of tax liabilities concerning property, cars, and land that have been destroyed, according to Pepel Kursk.

In spite of measures aimed at providing assistance, such as housing certificates for those who lost their primary residences, residents claim that the Federal Tax Service (FNS) continues to issue property tax bills for homes that were destroyed during the attacks in August and September 2024.

Pepel shared an image of a two-page letter addressed to Khinshtein, which was signed by two representatives of the initiative group.

The group contends that their concerns have gone unheard by the FNS, as their properties are still recorded in the state real estate registry despite being officially classified as uninhabitable.

“In essence, the documentation is adequate for acquiring the [housing] certificate; however, it is insufficient to halt the tax levies,” the letter states.

The independent news outlet Govorit Nemoskva has reported that residents from Korenevo, Sudzha, Rylsk, and other nearby communities have been queuing outside the regional subsidy office in Kursk beginning at 5:00 a.m. for weekly appointments to check on the status of their housing certificate applications.

These housing certificates can be utilized to secure new housing, contingent upon residents relinquishing ownership of their destroyed properties, resulting in uncertainty for numerous displaced families.

Pepel also highlights similar challenges faced with vehicles and plots of land. Residents are reporting that they are still receiving tax notifications for cars that were destroyed and land that is inaccessible due to ongoing security measures enacted by regional emergency officials.

In August 2024, Ukrainian forces executed a surprise cross-border offensive into the Kursk region, managing to seize significant areas before being pushed back by Russian troops, who were later supported by North Korean forces earlier in 2025.