According to the animal protection organization “UAnimals”, Russia’s actions have caused massive destruction of animal and plant life of Ukraine, as well as the poisoning the atmosphere and water resources. The animal protection organization “UAnimals” has created a petition calling for Russia to be punished for environmental crimes in Ukraine as a result of the war.
Source: The animal protection organization “UAnimals”
“The full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine has led to severe ecological destruction. Russia has committed military ecocide and by its actions has caused the mass destruction of animal and plant life, poisoning the atmosphere and water resources of Ukraine. The “UAnimals” organization calls on foreign states and international public organizations, eco-activists, to unite into a single coalition, and help in the fight against the aggressor who commits ecocide, and direct efforts to the preservation and post-war restoration of Ukraine’s environment,” says the petition addressed to the UN, the European Parliament, the parliaments of partner countries and international organizations.
The war has affected 20% of Ukraine’s nature conservation areas. Russian troops occupied 8 nature reserves and twelve national nature parks. Almost 80% of the territory of the “Holy Mountains” National Nature Park has been destroyed. A humanitarian crisis is observed in the occupied nature reserve “Ascania-Nova”.
According to the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine, the aggressive actions of the Russian Armed Forces during the eight months of the war led to the following:
- 182,880 square meters of soil are contaminated with harmful substances;
- 2,365,129 square meters of land are littered with the remains of destroyed items and ammunition;
- 680,618 tons of petroleum products were burned during the shelling, which resulted in significant air pollution;
- 23,286 hectares of forest were burned by rockets or shells – it will take at least 10 years to restore part of the forest area;
- 7,155,689 square meters of objects, including critical infrastructure, were destroyed. This also caused serious damage to the environment in Ukraine.
See also: A third of Ukraine’s forest fund was affected during the six months of the war
