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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also a war on the environment

January 2023
The environment has been one of the biggest losers in the war in Ukraine.

These are some of the damages caused since the start of the war in February last year:

• 2,300 instances of environmental damage caused by the fighting have been recorded.
• At least 23,300 hectares of forests have completely burned down.
• Illegal logging has been documented at many of the 18 national parks and nature reserves occupied by Russians.
• Thousands of dolphins in the Black Sea have been killed by mines and sonar from Russian submarines.
• Dangerous chemicals and fuels from rockets and artillery have poisoned large areas of farmland.

Repairing the damage will be expensive and will mostly have to wait until after the war.

Still, Ukrainians are already doing some environmental work.

For example, in the past year the country’s forest agency has planted 180 million new trees as part of a reforestation program, reports The Economist.

Reference shelf:
The war has devastated Ukraine’s environment, too (The Economist)

Environmental impacts of the war in Ukraine and prospects for a green reconstruction (OECDE)

More by WONKedition:
Climate change cost billions in damages in 2022

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