Key points:
- The environmental damage amounts to 6.01 trillion hryvnia — the largest in Europe in modern times.
- Significant losses were incurred in terms of soil, air, water resources and nature reserves.
- Fires at oil depots and chemical spills caused severe environmental pollution.
- The destruction of hydraulic structures led to the destruction of aquatic ecosystems.
- Approximately 20% of nature conservation areas have been damaged, and dozens of significant protected sites have been affected.
- The losses listed cover only the territories controlled by Ukraine; the final amount of losses will be known after de-occupation and full monitoring.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the environmental damage caused by the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression amounts to 6.01 trillion hryvnia — the largest recorded damage to the environment in modern European history.
The main types of damage include soil degradation (estimated at 1.29 trillion hryvnia), air pollution at 967 billion, pollution and contamination of water resources at 117.8 billion hryvnia, and destruction of part of the nature reserve fund at 3.63 trillion hryvnia.
Fires at oil depots caused particular damage, particularly in the village of Kryachky in the Kyiv region: emissions reached over 41,000 tonnes, and soil contamination exceeded permissible levels by 17 times. Similar cases were recorded in Chernihiv, Sumy region, Rubizhne and Severodonetsk, where missiles hitting chemical storage tanks caused toxic emissions.
The destruction of aquatic ecosystems was caused by the destruction of hydraulic structures, including the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam and the Oskil Reservoir dam. This led to changes in hydrology, loss of water volume and significant environmental damage.
Large nature conservation areas have been affected — about 20% of protected lands, including sections of the Emerald Network, areas of such natural complexes as the Kinburn Spit, Oleshky Sands, Lower Dnieper and others. Numerous Ramsar wetlands were destroyed or partially destroyed, and a significant part of natural biodiversity was lost.
According to Deputy Minister Ihor Zubovych, the figure given represents only the recorded losses in territories controlled by Ukraine. A full assessment of the environmental damage will be possible after de-occupation and comprehensive environmental monitoring.
Читайте також:
Екологічні наслідки війни Росії проти України
