Ukraine's losses due to environmental damage from the war have already reached $71 billion. As a result of the hostilities, 3 million hectares of Ukrainian forests have been destroyed and 139,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land have been contaminated with explosives. This was stated by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Hrynchuk during the UN Climate Change Conference, the Ministry of Environmental Protection reports UNN.
During the 1000 days of the war, the environmental damage caused by the hostilities is estimated at approximately $71 billion. During the full-scale invasion, Russia committed more than 6,500 crimes against the environment. More than six million Ukrainians had to seek temporary protection in different European countries, which resulted in additional 3.3 million tons of CO2 emissions. The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the war is 180 million tons
According to her, due to hostilities and forest fires, the greenhouse gas absorption potential of Ukrainian forests has decreased by 1.7 million tons over the almost three years of war, and 3 million hectares of Ukrainian forests have been destroyed. In addition, 139,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land have been contaminated by explosive ordnance.
Addendum
All environmental crimescommitted by Russia on the territory of Ukraine during the full-scale invasion are carefully documented in order to be properly assessed in international courts. And the experts of Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise help with this.
"Since February 2022 (September 2024 - ed.), the Institute's experts have conducted more than 300 studies of water and soil samples. Up to several dozen of these samples are analyzed in one examination. Such studies include several stages that allow us to assess the condition of water and soil, identify contamination, and determine possible consequences for the environment and health of Ukrainians. If necessary, other analyzes are carried out: physicochemical, biological, toxicological, radiological - these aspects allow us to establish the environmental condition in which we live," noted the experts of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise.