diff --git a/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/converter/NotNullColumn.java b/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/converter/NotNullColumn.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e9cc3814
--- /dev/null
+++ b/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/converter/NotNullColumn.java
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package tech.ydb.yoj.databind.converter;
+
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.Column;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.Target;
+
+import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE;
+import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.FIELD;
+import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.RECORD_COMPONENT;
+import static java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME;
+
+/**
+ * Signifies that the column stored in the database does not accept {@code NULL} values.
+ *
+ * @see Column#notNull
+ */
+@Column(notNull = true)
+@Target({FIELD, RECORD_COMPONENT, ANNOTATION_TYPE})
+@Retention(RUNTIME)
+public @interface NotNullColumn {
+}
diff --git a/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Column.java b/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Column.java
index c8dbe0c4..034291e9 100644
--- a/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Column.java
+++ b/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Column.java
@@ -58,6 +58,18 @@
      */
     String dbTypeQualifier() default "";
 
+    /**
+     * Specifies whether only non-{@code NULL} values can be stored in this column. Defaults to {@code false} (allow {@code NULL} values).<br>
+     * Note that this is orthogonal to Java nullness annotations, because YOJ uses {@code null} values for ID fields as a convention
+     * for "range over <em>all possible values</em> of this ID field" (see {@code Entity.Id.isPartial()}).
+     * <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Use the {@link tech.ydb.yoj.databind.converter.NotNullColumn} annotation if you only need to overide
+     * {@code Column.notNull} to {@code true}.
+     *
+     * @see <a href="https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149">#149</a>
+     */
+    @ExperimentalApi(issue = "https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149")
+    boolean notNull() default false;
+
     /**
      * Determines whether the {@link FieldValueType#COMPOSITE composite field} will be:
      * <ul>
diff --git a/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Schema.java b/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Schema.java
index 9e3e7717..c5801485 100644
--- a/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Schema.java
+++ b/databind/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/Schema.java
@@ -127,7 +127,15 @@ protected Schema(JavaField subSchemaField, @Nullable NamingStrategy parentNaming
             this.fields = subSchemaField.fields.stream().map(this::newRootJavaField).toList();
         } else {
             if (subSchemaField.getCustomValueTypeInfo() != null) {
-                var dummyField = new JavaField(new DummyCustomValueSubField(subSchemaField), subSchemaField, __ -> true);
+                // Even if custom value type is a record/POJO/... that contains subfields, we treat it as a flat single-column value
+                // because that's what a custom value type's ValueConverter returns: a single value fit for a database column.
+                // (Remember, we do not allow ValueConverter.toColumn() to return a COMPOSITE value or a value of a custom value type)
+                var dummyField = new JavaField(
+                        new DummyCustomValueSubField(subSchemaField),
+                        subSchemaField,
+                        __ -> true,
+                        this::isRequiredField
+                );
                 dummyField.setName(subSchemaField.getName());
                 this.fields = List.of(dummyField);
             } else {
@@ -187,11 +195,11 @@ name, getType(), fieldPath)
                 columns.add(field.getName());
             }
             outputIndexes.add(Index.builder()
-                .indexName(name)
-                .fieldNames(List.copyOf(columns))
-                .unique(index.type() == GlobalIndex.Type.UNIQUE)
-                .async(index.type() == GlobalIndex.Type.GLOBAL_ASYNC)
-                .build());
+                    .indexName(name)
+                    .fieldNames(List.copyOf(columns))
+                    .unique(index.type() == GlobalIndex.Type.UNIQUE)
+                    .async(index.type() == GlobalIndex.Type.GLOBAL_ASYNC)
+                    .build());
         }
         return outputIndexes;
     }
@@ -249,7 +257,7 @@ private static List<tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.Changefeed> collectChangefeeds(
     }
 
     private JavaField newRootJavaField(@NonNull ReflectField field) {
-        return new JavaField(field, null, this::isFlattenable);
+        return new JavaField(field, null, this::isFlattenable, this::isRequiredField);
     }
 
     private JavaField newRootJavaField(@NonNull JavaField javaField) {
@@ -288,6 +296,19 @@ protected boolean isFlattenable(ReflectField field) {
         return false;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @param field field
+     * @return {@code true} if this field is required; {@code false} otherwise
+     */
+    @ExperimentalApi(issue = "https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149")
+    protected boolean isRequiredField(ReflectField field) {
+        var column = field.getColumn();
+        if (column != null) {
+            return column.notNull();
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     public final Class<T> getType() {
         return type;
     }
@@ -492,6 +513,9 @@ public static final class JavaField {
         private final FieldValueType valueType;
         @Getter
         private final boolean flattenable;
+
+        private final boolean required;
+
         @Getter
         private String name;
         @Getter
@@ -499,15 +523,18 @@ public static final class JavaField {
 
         private final List<JavaField> fields;
 
-        private JavaField(ReflectField field, JavaField parent, Predicate<ReflectField> isFlattenable) {
+        private JavaField(ReflectField field, JavaField parent, Predicate<ReflectField> isFlattenable, Predicate<ReflectField> isRequired) {
             this.field = field;
             this.parent = parent;
             this.flattenable = isFlattenable.test(field);
+
+            this.required = (parent != null && parent.required) || isRequired.test(field);
+
             this.path = parent == null ? field.getName() : parent.getPath() + PATH_DELIMITER + field.getName();
             this.valueType = field.getValueType();
             if (valueType.isComposite()) {
                 this.fields = field.getChildren().stream()
-                        .map(f -> new JavaField(f, this, isFlattenable))
+                        .map(f -> new JavaField(f, this, isFlattenable, isRequired))
                         .toList();
 
                 if (flattenable && isFlat()) {
@@ -522,6 +549,7 @@ private JavaField(JavaField javaField, JavaField parent) {
             this.field = javaField.field;
             this.parent = parent;
             this.flattenable = javaField.flattenable;
+            this.required = javaField.required;
             this.name = javaField.name;
             this.path = javaField.path;
             this.valueType = javaField.valueType;
@@ -536,7 +564,7 @@ private JavaField(JavaField javaField, JavaField parent) {
          * If the {@link Column} annotation is present, the field {@code dbType} may be used to
          * specify the DB column type.
          *
-         * @return the DB column type for data binding if specified, {@code null} otherwise
+         * @return the DB column type for data binding if specified, {@link DbType#DEFAULT} otherwise
          * @see Column
          */
         public DbType getDbType() {
@@ -783,6 +811,27 @@ public <J, C extends Comparable<? super C>> CustomValueTypeInfo<J, C> getCustomV
             return (CustomValueTypeInfo<J, C>) field.getCustomValueTypeInfo();
         }
 
+        /**
+         * @return {@code true} if the database column does accept {@code NULL}; {@code false} otherwise
+         * @see Column#notNull()
+         * @see #isRequired()
+         * @see <a href="https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149">#149</a>
+         */
+        @ExperimentalApi(issue = "https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149")
+        public boolean isOptional() {
+            return !required;
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * @return {@code true} if the database column does not accept {@code NULL}; {@code false} otherwise
+         * @see Column#notNull()
+         * @see <a href="https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149">#149</a>
+         */
+        @ExperimentalApi(issue = "https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149")
+        public boolean isRequired() {
+            return required;
+        }
+
         @Override
         public String toString() {
             return getType().getTypeName() + " " + field.getName();
diff --git a/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/BadMetaAnnotatedEntity.java b/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/BadMetaAnnotatedEntity.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..130e3f7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/BadMetaAnnotatedEntity.java
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.naming;
+
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.converter.NotNullColumn;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.converter.ObjectColumn;
+
+public record BadMetaAnnotatedEntity(
+        Id id,
+
+        @ObjectColumn
+        @NotNullColumn
+        Key key
+) {
+    public record Key(String parent, long timestamp) {
+    }
+
+    public record Id(String value) {
+    }
+}
diff --git a/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/MetaAnnotatedEntity.java b/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/MetaAnnotatedEntity.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e3590f22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/MetaAnnotatedEntity.java
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.naming;
+
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.converter.NotNullColumn;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.converter.ObjectColumn;
+
+public record MetaAnnotatedEntity(
+        @NotNullColumn
+        Id id,
+
+        @ObjectColumn
+        Key key
+) {
+    public record Key(String parent, long timestamp) {
+    }
+
+    public record Id(String value) {
+    }
+}
diff --git a/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/MetaAnnotationTest.java b/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/MetaAnnotationTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4eddb9a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/databind/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/databind/schema/naming/MetaAnnotationTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.naming;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.FieldValueType;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.ObjectSchema;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatIllegalArgumentException;
+
+public class MetaAnnotationTest {
+    @Test
+    public void basicMetaAnnotation() {
+        var schema = ObjectSchema.of(MetaAnnotatedEntity.class);
+
+        var idField = schema.getField("id");
+        assertThat(idField.isRequired()).isTrue();
+
+        var keyField = schema.getField("key");
+        assertThat(keyField.getValueType()).isEqualTo(FieldValueType.OBJECT);
+
+        var idColumn = idField.getField().getColumn();
+        assertThat(idColumn).isNotNull();
+        assertThat(idColumn.flatten()).isTrue();
+        assertThat(idColumn.notNull()).isTrue();
+
+        var keyColumn = keyField.getField().getColumn();
+        assertThat(keyColumn).isNotNull();
+        assertThat(keyColumn.flatten()).isFalse();
+        assertThat(keyColumn.notNull()).isFalse();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void multipleAnnotationsNotAllowed() {
+        assertThatIllegalArgumentException().isThrownBy(() -> ObjectSchema.of(BadMetaAnnotatedEntity.class));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/client/YdbSchemaOperations.java b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/client/YdbSchemaOperations.java
index 2a806983..d34ca9ec 100644
--- a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/client/YdbSchemaOperations.java
+++ b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/client/YdbSchemaOperations.java
@@ -100,7 +100,11 @@ public void createTable(String name, List<EntitySchema.JavaField> columns, List<
                     .orElseThrow(() -> new CreateTableException(String.format("Can't create table '%s'%n"
                             + "Can't find yql primitive type '%s' in YDB SDK", name, yqlType)));
             ValueProtos.Type typeProto = ValueProtos.Type.newBuilder().setTypeId(yqlType).build();
-            builder.addNullableColumn(c.getName(), YdbConverter.convertProtoPrimitiveTypeToSDK(typeProto));
+            if (c.isOptional()) {
+                builder.addNullableColumn(c.getName(), YdbConverter.convertProtoPrimitiveTypeToSDK(typeProto));
+            } else {
+                builder.addNonnullColumn(c.getName(), YdbConverter.convertProtoPrimitiveTypeToSDK(typeProto));
+            }
         });
         List<String> primaryKeysNames = primaryKeys.stream().map(Schema.JavaField::getName).collect(toList());
         builder.setPrimaryKeys(primaryKeysNames);
@@ -220,8 +224,9 @@ public Table describeTable(String name, List<EntitySchema.JavaField> columns, Li
                 .map(c -> {
                     String columnName = c.getName();
                     String simpleType = YqlType.of(c).getYqlType().name();
+                    boolean isNotNull = c.isRequired();
                     boolean isPrimaryKey = primaryKeysNames.contains(columnName);
-                    return new Column(columnName, simpleType, isPrimaryKey);
+                    return new Column(columnName, simpleType, isPrimaryKey, isNotNull);
                 })
                 .toList();
         List<Index> ydbIndexes = indexes.stream()
@@ -339,8 +344,9 @@ private Table describeTableInternal(String path) {
                         .map(c -> {
                             String columnName = c.getName();
                             String simpleType = safeUnwrapOptional(c.getType()).toPb().getTypeId().name();
+                            boolean isNotNull = isNotNull(c.getType());
                             boolean isPrimaryKey = table.getPrimaryKeys().contains(columnName);
-                            return new Column(columnName, simpleType, isPrimaryKey);
+                            return new Column(columnName, simpleType, isPrimaryKey, isNotNull);
                         })
                         .toList(),
                 table.getIndexes().stream()
@@ -356,6 +362,17 @@ private Type safeUnwrapOptional(Type type) {
         return type.getKind() == Type.Kind.OPTIONAL ? type.unwrapOptional() : type;
     }
 
+    private boolean isNotNull(Type type) {
+        if (type.getKind() == Type.Kind.VOID || type.getKind() == Type.Kind.NULL) {
+            // This should never happen: Both Void and Null type can only have NULL as their value, having such columns is pointless.
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Void and Null types should never be used for columns");
+        }
+
+        // Optional<...> explicitly allows for NULL, other kinds should be NOT NULL by default
+        // (incl. Lists, Structs, Tuples, Variants are not supported as columns (yet?) but they can be...)
+        return type.getKind() != Type.Kind.OPTIONAL;
+    }
+
     public void removeTablespace() {
         removeTablespace(tablespace);
     }
@@ -478,6 +495,7 @@ public static class Column {
         String name;
         String type;
         boolean primary;
+        boolean notNull;
     }
 
     @Value
diff --git a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/compatibility/YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker.java b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/compatibility/YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker.java
index 4c35042a..b8f2de5f 100644
--- a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/compatibility/YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker.java
+++ b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/compatibility/YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker.java
@@ -274,6 +274,11 @@ private String makeDropColumn(YdbSchemaOperations.Table table, YdbSchemaOperatio
     }
 
     private String makeAddColumn(YdbSchemaOperations.Table table, YdbSchemaOperations.Column c) {
+        if (c.isNotNull()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Trying to add a NOT NULL column `" + c.getName() + "` but YDB does not support adding "
+                    + "NOT NULL columns to existing tables, even with a DEFAULT value");
+        }
+
         if (config.useBuilderDDLSyntax) {
             return "DDLQuery.addColumn(" + builderDDLTableNameLiteral(table) + ", " +
                     javaLiteral(c.getName()) + ", " +
@@ -302,7 +307,7 @@ private static String builderDDLIndexes(YdbSchemaOperations.Table table) {
 
     private static String builderDDLColumns(YdbSchemaOperations.Table table) {
         return table.getColumns().stream()
-                .map(c -> "\t\t.addNullableColumn(" + javaLiteral(c.getName()) + ", " +
+                .map(c -> "\t\t.add" + (c.isNotNull() ? "NotNull" : "Nullable") + "Column(" + javaLiteral(c.getName()) + ", " +
                         typeToDDL(c.getType()) + ")\n")
                 .collect(joining(""));
     }
@@ -335,7 +340,7 @@ private static String typeToDDL(String type) {
 
     private static String columns(YdbSchemaOperations.Table table) {
         return table.getColumns().stream()
-                .map(c -> "\t`" + c.getName() + "` " + c.getType())
+                .map(c -> "\t`" + c.getName() + "` " + c.getType() + (c.isNotNull() ? " NOT NULL" : ""))
                 .collect(joining(",\n"));
     }
 
@@ -352,13 +357,13 @@ private static String indexes(YdbSchemaOperations.Table table) {
             return "\n";
         }
         return ",\n" + indexes.stream()
-            .map(idx -> "\t" + indexStatement(idx))
-            .collect(Collectors.joining(",\n")) + "\n";
+                .map(idx -> "\t" + indexStatement(idx))
+                .collect(Collectors.joining(",\n")) + "\n";
     }
 
     private static String indexStatement(YdbSchemaOperations.Index idx) {
         return String.format("INDEX `%s` GLOBAL %sON (%s)",
-            idx.getName(), idx.isUnique() ? "UNIQUE " : idx.isAsync() ? "ASYNC " : "", indexColumns(idx.getColumns()));
+                idx.getName(), idx.isUnique() ? "UNIQUE " : idx.isAsync() ? "ASYNC " : "", indexColumns(idx.getColumns()));
     }
 
     private static String indexColumns(List<String> columns) {
@@ -413,7 +418,7 @@ private void makeMigrationTableIndexInstructions(YdbSchemaOperations.Table from,
                 .collect(toMap(YdbSchemaOperations.Index::getName, Function.identity()));
 
         Function<YdbSchemaOperations.Index, String> createIndex = i ->
-            String.format("ALTER TABLE `%s` ADD %s;", to.getName(), indexStatement(i));
+                String.format("ALTER TABLE `%s` ADD %s;", to.getName(), indexStatement(i));
 
         Function<YdbSchemaOperations.Index, String> dropIndex = i ->
                 String.format("ALTER TABLE `%s` DROP INDEX `%s`;", from.getName(), i.getName());
@@ -461,9 +466,16 @@ private String columnDiff(YdbSchemaOperations.Column column, YdbSchemaOperations
         if (column.isPrimary() != newColumn.isPrimary()) {
             return "primary_key changed: " + column.isPrimary() + " --> " + newColumn.isPrimary();
         }
+        if (column.isNotNull() != newColumn.isNotNull()) {
+            return "nullability changed: " + nullabilityStr(column) + " --> " + nullabilityStr(newColumn);
+        }
         return "type changed: " + column.getType() + " --> " + newColumn.getType();
     }
 
+    private String nullabilityStr(YdbSchemaOperations.Column column) {
+        return column.isNotNull() ? "NOT NULL" : "NULL";
+    }
+
     private boolean containsPrefix(String globalName, Set<String> prefixes) {
         if (prefixes.isEmpty()) {
             return false;
diff --git a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/FindRangeStatement.java b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/FindRangeStatement.java
index d85775c4..eb72407e 100644
--- a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/FindRangeStatement.java
+++ b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/FindRangeStatement.java
@@ -83,20 +83,23 @@ enum RangeBound {
         EQ("=", Range::getEqMap),
         MAX("<=", Range::getMaxMap),
         MIN(">=", Range::getMinMap);
-        String op;
-        Function<Range, Map<String, Object>> mapper;
+        private final String op;
+        private final Function<Range<?>, Map<String, Object>> mapper;
 
-        public Map<String, Object> map(Range range) {
+        public Map<String, Object> map(Range<?> range) {
             return mapper.apply(range);
         }
     }
 
-    static class YqlStatementRangeParam extends YqlStatementParam {
+    private static class YqlStatementRangeParam extends YqlStatementParam {
         private final RangeBound rangeBound;
         private final String rangeName;
 
         YqlStatementRangeParam(YqlType type, String name, RangeBound rangeBound) {
-            super(type, rangeBound.name() + "_" + name, true);
+            // YqlStatementRangeParam is always about the value of ID field,
+            // and YOJ disallows writing NULL to columns corresponding to ID fields.
+            // ==> YqlStatementRangeParams are always required, never optional
+            super(type, rangeBound.name() + "_" + name, false);
             this.rangeBound = rangeBound;
             this.rangeName = name;
         }
diff --git a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/MultipleVarsYqlStatement.java b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/MultipleVarsYqlStatement.java
index 81d132e6..e9e72c02 100644
--- a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/MultipleVarsYqlStatement.java
+++ b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/MultipleVarsYqlStatement.java
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ public List<YqlStatementParam> getParams() {
     }
 
     private static boolean isOptional(Schema.JavaField f) {
-        return !isIdField(f);
+        // TODO(nvamelichev): When we consider all ID fields required by default (see EntityIdFieldNullability), the isIdField(f) check should be removed
+        boolean required = isIdField(f) || f.isRequired();
+        return !required;
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/UpdateSetParam.java b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/UpdateSetParam.java
index 833bcd18..2eb60743 100644
--- a/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/UpdateSetParam.java
+++ b/repository-ydb-v2/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/statement/UpdateSetParam.java
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public final class UpdateSetParam extends PredicateStatement.Param {
 
     private UpdateSetParam(@NonNull EntitySchema.JavaField field,
                            @NonNull EntitySchema.JavaField rootField, @NonNull String rootFieldPath) {
-        super(YqlType.of(field), PREFIX + underscoreIllegalSymbols(field.getName()), true);
+        super(YqlType.of(field), PREFIX + underscoreIllegalSymbols(field.getName()), field.isOptional());
         Preconditions.checkState(field.isFlat(), "Can only create update statements for flat fields");
         this.field = field;
 
diff --git a/repository-ydb-v2/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/YdbRepositoryIntegrationTest.java b/repository-ydb-v2/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/YdbRepositoryIntegrationTest.java
index 483ea996..5c000f1a 100644
--- a/repository-ydb-v2/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/YdbRepositoryIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/repository-ydb-v2/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/YdbRepositoryIntegrationTest.java
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
 import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.model.IndexedEntityCreateIndex;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.model.IndexedEntityDropIndex;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.model.IndexedEntityNew;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.model.IndexedEntityNotNull;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.sample.model.HintAutoPartitioningByLoad;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.sample.model.HintInt64Range;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.sample.model.HintTablePreset;
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatExceptionOfType;
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatIllegalStateException;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.EntityExpressions.newFilterBuilder;
 import static tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.EntityExpressions.newOrderBuilder;
 
@@ -241,9 +242,11 @@ public QueryType getQueryType() {
                             return QueryType.SELECT;
                         }
                     }, null);
-            assertEquals(List.of(new GroupByResult("id_yql_list", List.of("id_yql_list"),
+            assertThat(result).containsExactlyElementsOf(List.of(
+                    new GroupByResult("id_yql_list", List.of("id_yql_list"),
                     Map.of("name", "id_yql_list"),
-                    new GroupByResult.Struct("id_yql_list"))), result);
+                    new GroupByResult.Struct("id_yql_list")))
+            );
         });
     }
 
@@ -423,7 +426,7 @@ public void checkDBSessionBusy() {
 
     @Test
     public void subdirTable() {
-        Assertions.assertThat(((YdbRepository) repository).getSchemaOperations().getTableNames(true))
+        assertThat(((YdbRepository) repository).getSchemaOperations().getTableNames(true))
                 .contains("subdir/SubdirEntity");
     }
 
@@ -534,6 +537,11 @@ public void predicateWithMultipleBoxedPayload() {
         });
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void notNullColumns() {
+        // TODO implement test of NOT NULL
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testSelectDefault() {
         db.tx(() -> db.indexedTable().insert(e1, e2));
@@ -745,10 +753,10 @@ private void testTransactionTakesTimeoutFromGrpcContext(int timeoutMin) {
     public void testCompatibilityDropIndex() {
         var checker = new YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker(List.of(IndexedEntityDropIndex.class), (YdbRepository) repository);
         checker.run();
-        Assertions.assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).isEmpty();
+        assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).isEmpty();
 
         var ts = getRealYdbConfig().getTablespace();
-        Assertions.assertThat(checker.getCanExecuteMessages()).containsAnyOf(
+        assertThat(checker.getCanExecuteMessages()).containsAnyOf(
                 String.format("ALTER TABLE `%stable_with_indexes` DROP INDEX `key_index`;", ts)
         );
     }
@@ -756,9 +764,9 @@ public void testCompatibilityDropIndex() {
     @Test
     public void testCompatibilityCreateIndex() {
         var checker = new YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker(List.of(IndexedEntityCreateIndex.class), (YdbRepository) repository);
-        Assertions.assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
+        assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
         var ts = getRealYdbConfig().getTablespace();
-        Assertions.assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(
+        assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(
                 String.format("ALTER TABLE `%stable_with_indexes` ADD INDEX `key2_index` GLOBAL ON (`key_id`,`valueId2`);", ts)
         );
     }
@@ -766,9 +774,9 @@ public void testCompatibilityCreateIndex() {
     @Test
     public void testCompatibilityDropTtl() {
         var checker = new YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker(List.of(EntityDropTtl.class), (YdbRepository) repository);
-        Assertions.assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
+        assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
         var ts = getRealYdbConfig().getTablespace();
-        Assertions.assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(
+        assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(
                 String.format("ALTER TABLE `%sTtlEntity` RESET (TTL);", ts)
         );
     }
@@ -776,9 +784,9 @@ public void testCompatibilityDropTtl() {
     @Test
     public void testCompatibilityChangeOrCreateTtl() {
         var checker = new YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker(List.of(EntityChangeTtl.class), (YdbRepository) repository);
-        Assertions.assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
+        assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
         var ts = getRealYdbConfig().getTablespace();
-        Assertions.assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(
+        assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(
                 String.format("ALTER TABLE `%sTtlEntity` SET (TTL = Interval(\"PT2H\") ON createdAt);", ts)
         );
     }
@@ -786,7 +794,7 @@ public void testCompatibilityChangeOrCreateTtl() {
     @Test
     public void testCompatibilityNewIndexedTable() {
         var checker = new YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker(List.of(IndexedEntityNew.class), (YdbRepository) repository);
-        Assertions.assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
+        assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
         var ts = getRealYdbConfig().getTablespace();
         String expected = String.format(
                 "CREATE TABLE `%snew_table_with_indexes` (\n" +
@@ -801,24 +809,39 @@ public void testCompatibilityNewIndexedTable() {
                         "\tINDEX `key3_index` GLOBAL ASYNC ON (`key_id`,`value_id`)\n" +
                         ");",
                 ts);
-        Assert.assertEquals(expected, checker.getShouldExecuteMessages().get(0));
-        Assertions.assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(
-                expected
-        );
-
+        assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(expected);
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testCompatibilityChangeIndex() {
         var checker = new YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker(List.of(IndexedEntityChangeIndex.class), (YdbRepository) repository);
-        Assertions.assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
+        assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
 
         var ts = getRealYdbConfig().getTablespace();
         String message = String.format("Altering index `%stable_with_indexes`.value_index is impossible: " +
                 "columns are changed: [value_id, valueId2] --> [value_id].\n", ts);
         message += String.format("ALTER TABLE `%stable_with_indexes` DROP INDEX `value_index`;\n", ts);
         message += String.format("ALTER TABLE `%stable_with_indexes` ADD INDEX `value_index` GLOBAL ON (`value_id`);", ts);
-        Assertions.assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(message);
+        assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(message);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testCompatibilityNotNull() {
+        var checker = new YdbSchemaCompatibilityChecker(List.of(IndexedEntityNotNull.class), (YdbRepository) repository);
+        assertThatThrownBy(checker::run);
+        var ts = getRealYdbConfig().getTablespace();
+        String expected = String.format(
+                "CREATE TABLE `%snew_table_with_indexes` (\n" +
+                        "\t`version_id` STRING NOT NULL,\n" +
+                        "\t`key_id` STRING,\n" +
+                        "\t`value_id` STRING,\n" +
+                        "\t`valueId2` STRING,\n" +
+                        "\tPRIMARY KEY(`version_id`),\n" +
+                        "\tINDEX `key_index` GLOBAL ON (`key_id`),\n" +
+                        "\tINDEX `value_index` GLOBAL ON (`value_id`,`valueId2`)\n" +
+                        ");",
+                ts);
+        assertThat(checker.getShouldExecuteMessages()).containsExactly(expected);
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -838,11 +861,11 @@ private void executeQuery(String expectSqlQuery, List<IndexedEntity> expectRows,
                 tableDescriptor, schema, schema, parts, false
         );
         var sqlQuery = statement.getQuery("ts/");
-        assertEquals(expectSqlQuery, sqlQuery);
+        assertThat(sqlQuery).isEqualTo(expectSqlQuery);
 
         // Check we use index and query was not failed
         var actual = db.tx(() -> ((YdbTable<IndexedEntity>) db.indexedTable()).find(parts));
-        assertEquals(expectRows, actual);
+        assertThat(actual).containsExactlyElementsOf(expectRows);
     }
 
     private void checkTxRetryableOnRequestError(StatusCodesProtos.StatusIds.StatusCode statusCode) {
diff --git a/repository-ydb-v2/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/model/IndexedEntityNotNull.java b/repository-ydb-v2/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/model/IndexedEntityNotNull.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d4219fb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/repository-ydb-v2/src/test/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/ydb/model/IndexedEntityNotNull.java
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package tech.ydb.yoj.repository.ydb.model;
+
+import lombok.Value;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.Column;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.GlobalIndex;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.Table;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.Entity;
+
+@Value
+@GlobalIndex(name = "key_index", fields = {"keyId"})
+@GlobalIndex(name = "value_index", fields = {"valueId", "valueId2"})
+@Table(name = "new_table_with_indexes")
+public class IndexedEntityNotNull implements Entity<IndexedEntityNotNull> {
+    @Column(name = "version_id", notNull = true)
+    Id id;
+    @Column(name = "key_id")
+    String keyId;
+    @Column(name = "value_id")
+    String valueId;
+    @Column
+    String valueId2;
+
+    @Value
+    public static class Id implements Entity.Id<IndexedEntityNotNull> {
+        @Column(name = "version_id")
+        String versionId;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntityIdFieldNullability.java b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntityIdFieldNullability.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1b0012a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntityIdFieldNullability.java
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db;
+
+import tech.ydb.yoj.InternalApi;
+
+@InternalApi
+/*package*/ enum EntityIdFieldNullability {
+    ALWAYS_NULL,
+    USE_COLUMN_ANNOTATION,
+    ALWAYS_NOT_NULL;
+
+    private static final String PROP_NOT_NULL_MODE = "tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.idFieldNullability";
+
+    public static EntityIdFieldNullability get() {
+        return valueOf(System.getProperty(PROP_NOT_NULL_MODE, USE_COLUMN_ANNOTATION.name()));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntityIdSchema.java b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntityIdSchema.java
index 32a7e217..d09745a5 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntityIdSchema.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntityIdSchema.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
 import com.google.common.reflect.TypeToken;
 import lombok.NonNull;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.ExperimentalApi;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.CustomValueTypes;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.FieldValueType;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.Schema;
@@ -90,6 +91,16 @@ protected boolean isFlattenable(ReflectField field) {
         return true;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    @ExperimentalApi(issue = "https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149")
+    protected boolean isRequiredField(ReflectField field) {
+        return switch (EntityIdFieldNullability.get()) {
+            case ALWAYS_NULL -> false;
+            case USE_COLUMN_ANNOTATION -> super.isRequiredField(field);
+            case ALWAYS_NOT_NULL -> true;
+        };
+    }
+
     public static <T extends Entity<T>, ID extends Entity.Id<T>> EntityIdSchema<ID> ofEntity(Class<T> entityType) {
         return ofEntity(entityType, null);
     }
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntitySchema.java b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntitySchema.java
index 77034fe3..12fbc6e8 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntitySchema.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/EntitySchema.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import com.google.common.reflect.TypeToken;
 import lombok.Getter;
+import tech.ydb.yoj.ExperimentalApi;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.Schema;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.configuration.SchemaRegistry;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.configuration.SchemaRegistry.SchemaKey;
@@ -102,6 +103,20 @@ protected boolean isFlattenable(ReflectField field) {
         return Entity.Id.class.isAssignableFrom(field.getType());
     }
 
+    @Override
+    @ExperimentalApi(issue = "https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149")
+    protected boolean isRequiredField(ReflectField field) {
+        if (Entity.Id.class.isAssignableFrom(field.getType())) {
+            return switch (EntityIdFieldNullability.get()) {
+                case ALWAYS_NULL -> false;
+                case USE_COLUMN_ANNOTATION -> super.isRequiredField(field);
+                case ALWAYS_NOT_NULL -> true;
+            };
+        } else {
+            return super.isRequiredField(field);
+        }
+    }
+
     public <ID extends Entity.Id<T>> EntityIdSchema<ID> getIdSchema() {
         return EntityIdSchema.from(this);
     }
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/ViewSchema.java b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/ViewSchema.java
index 0d1e5e64..913c1230 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/ViewSchema.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/ViewSchema.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db;
 
+import tech.ydb.yoj.ExperimentalApi;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.Schema;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.configuration.SchemaRegistry;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.databind.schema.configuration.SchemaRegistry.SchemaKey;
@@ -33,4 +34,18 @@ public static <VIEW extends Table.View> ViewSchema<VIEW> of(SchemaRegistry regis
     protected boolean isFlattenable(ReflectField field) {
         return Entity.Id.class.isAssignableFrom(field.getType());
     }
+
+    @Override
+    @ExperimentalApi(issue = "https://github.com/ydb-platform/yoj-project/issues/149")
+    protected boolean isRequiredField(ReflectField field) {
+        if (Entity.Id.class.isAssignableFrom(field.getType())) {
+            return switch (EntityIdFieldNullability.get()) {
+                case ALWAYS_NULL -> false;
+                case USE_COLUMN_ANNOTATION -> super.isRequiredField(field);
+                case ALWAYS_NOT_NULL -> true;
+            };
+        } else {
+            return super.isRequiredField(field);
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/cache/RepositoryCache.java b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/cache/RepositoryCache.java
index c58649e5..d1819826 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/cache/RepositoryCache.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/repository/db/cache/RepositoryCache.java
@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
 package tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.cache;
 
-import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
 import lombok.NonNull;
 import lombok.RequiredArgsConstructor;
 import lombok.Value;
-import tech.ydb.yoj.DeprecationWarnings;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.InternalApi;
-import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.Entity;
-import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.EntitySchema;
 import tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.TableDescriptor;
 
 import java.util.Optional;
@@ -92,7 +88,7 @@ class Key {
         Object id;
 
         /**
-         * @deprecated This constructor will start throwing {@code UnsupportedOperationException} in YOJ 2.7.0
+         * @deprecated This constructor always throws {@code UnsupportedOperationException},
          * and will be permanently removed in YOJ 3.0.0.
          * <p>If your custom {@code YqlStatement}s make use of {@code readFromCache()} and {@code storeToCache()},
          * please migrate them to use the new constructors: {@code RepositoryCache.Key(TableDescriptor, Entity.Id)}
@@ -100,19 +96,10 @@ class Key {
          * for a more general version suitable for caching e.g. {@code View}s.
          */
         @Deprecated(forRemoval = true)
-        public Key(@NonNull Class<?> clazz, @NonNull Object id) {
-            DeprecationWarnings.warnOnce("tech.ydb.yoj.repository.db.cache.RepositoryCache.Key(Class<?>, Object)",
-                    "Please migrate to RepositoryCache.Key(Class<?>, TableDescriptor<?>, Object) constructor");
-
-            Preconditions.checkArgument(clazz.isAssignableFrom(Entity.class),
-                    "Deprecated RepositoryCache.Key(Class<?>, Object) constructor only entities, but got: %s", clazz);
-
-            this.valueType = clazz;
-
-            @SuppressWarnings({"unchecked", "rawtypes"}) EntitySchema<?> schema = EntitySchema.of((Class<Entity>) clazz);
-            this.tableDescriptor = TableDescriptor.from(schema);
-
-            this.id = id;
+        public Key(@NonNull Class<?> ignore1, @NonNull Object ignore2) {
+            throw new UnsupportedOperationException(
+                    "Please migrate to RepositoryCache.Key(Class<?>, TableDescriptor<?>, Object) constructor"
+            );
         }
 
         /**
diff --git a/util/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/util/lang/Annotations.java b/util/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/util/lang/Annotations.java
index 48fdc018..1eda64f0 100644
--- a/util/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/util/lang/Annotations.java
+++ b/util/src/main/java/tech/ydb/yoj/util/lang/Annotations.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package tech.ydb.yoj.util.lang;
 
+import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
+
 import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
@@ -55,11 +57,13 @@ private static Set<Annotation> collectAnnotations(Class<?> component) {
     private static <A extends Annotation> A findInDepth(Class<A> annotation, @Nonnull AnnotatedElement component) {
         Set<Annotation> visited = new HashSet<>();
         Set<Annotation> annotationToExamine = getAnnotations(component);
+
+        Set<A> found = new HashSet<>();
         while (!annotationToExamine.isEmpty()) {
             Annotation candidate = annotationToExamine.iterator().next();
             if (visited.add(candidate)) {
-                if (candidate.annotationType() == annotation) {
-                    return (A) candidate;
+                if (candidate.annotationType().equals(annotation)) {
+                    found.add((A) candidate);
                 } else {
                     nonJdkAnnotations(candidate.annotationType().getDeclaredAnnotations())
                             .forEach(annotationToExamine::add);
@@ -67,7 +71,15 @@ private static <A extends Annotation> A findInDepth(Class<A> annotation, @Nonnul
             }
             annotationToExamine.remove(candidate);
         }
-        return null;
+
+        if (found.isEmpty()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        var iter = found.iterator();
+        A firstFound = iter.next();
+        Preconditions.checkArgument(!iter.hasNext(), "Got multiple (meta-)annotations matching %s on '%s'", annotation.getCanonicalName(), component);
+        return firstFound;
     }
 
     private static Set<Annotation> getAnnotations(AnnotatedElement component) {
@@ -79,8 +91,7 @@ private static Set<Annotation> getAnnotations(AnnotatedElement component) {
     }
 
     private static Stream<Annotation> nonJdkAnnotations(Annotation[] annotations) {
-        return Arrays.stream(annotations)
-                .filter(da -> !jdkClass(da.annotationType()));
+        return Arrays.stream(annotations).filter(da -> !jdkClass(da.annotationType()));
     }
 
     static boolean jdkClass(Class<?> type) {