Catastrophic consequences: How Russia's war against Ukraine impacts environment
The war in Ukraine is destroying forests, soils, water resources, flora, and fauna (photo: facebook.com/MNS.GOV.UA)
The war waged by Russia against Ukraine is causing not only numerous human casualties and economic and social losses, but also devastating damage to the environment across the country.
RBC-Ukraine explains how the war is harming the environment and whether there are any ways to address the situation.
How the war harms the environment
During combat, the environment becomes an "invisible victim" since some of the consequences may not be immediately felt. However, they will become noticeable in the coming years.
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, at least 5,531 cases of negative environmental impact have been registered:
- Deforestation
- Destruction of water resources
- Soil and agricultural land contamination with heavy metals and other toxic substances (due to explosions, chemical spills, etc.)
- Water contamination with toxic substances
- Air pollution, among others.
The total cost of the damage is estimated at 2.562 trillion hryvnias.
For example, deforestation:
- Leads to a decrease in natural carbon dioxide absorption
- Causes soil erosion
- Deprives numerous species of flora and fauna of their natural habitat (which can lead to irreversible biodiversity loss and affect entire ecosystems)
It is known that military actions on Ukrainian territory have already caused pollution of over 5 million hectares of agricultural land, which directly impacts the country's food security.
The destruction of infrastructure, such as wastewater treatment facilities and water pipelines, causes toxic substances to leak into water bodies:
- Deteriorating water quality
- Complicating access to drinking water (about 5 million Ukrainians remain without access to clean water as a result of Russian aggression)
- Posing threats to human health
- Posing threats to flora and fauna
Additionally, the war has already caused an extra release of 175 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere.
It is known that significant greenhouse gas emissions accompanying military actions lead to long-term changes in the climate.
Thus, the ecological crimes of the aggressor country are already negatively affecting all aspects of life for Ukrainians.
Impact of Russia's environmental crimes on human rights
Equally important is the fact that Russia's environmental crimes affect the observance of basic human rights.
For instance, water and air pollution violates the right to a safe environment, impacting public health. Technological disasters (such as the flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant) lead to the loss of homes and livelihoods for people.
Given the scale of Russia's environmental crimes, action must be taken today. That is why Ukraine and the international community must continue to:
- document all cases of environmental crimes
- work on holding the aggressor accountable
Currently, efforts are underway to appeal to international courts and initiate the inclusion of ecocide in the Rome Statute as one of the main international crimes.
Also, read about how global warming could radically change Europe's climate.
Sources: the official resource of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine EcoThreat, the two-year report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Protection of Civilians: Impact of Hostilities on Civilians Since February 24, 2022, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
