Damage to Ukraine's environment caused by war exceeds UAH 2 trillion

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this in his address at the International Forum United for Justice. United for Nature, the Government’s press service reports.

“The Russian attack on the Kakhovka dam was the largest act of ecocide in the last 70 years. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the total damage caused by this attack alone exceeds UAH 146 billion (EUR 3.8 billion). Irrigation systems on farmland, which there was grown about 2 million tonnes of grain per year, were left without water. This amounts to 70% of the grain exported by Ukraine to Africa in 2022," the Prime Minister said.

He also said that according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the total environmental damage caused by Russian aggression now amounts to more than UAH 2 trillion, or EUR 55.6 billion. In particular, half of these losses are due to air pollution from forest fires, missile attacks, and the burning of oil products. Land pollution is worth over UAH 980 billion, and water pollution is worth UAH 60 billion.

According to the Prime Minister, more than 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine's territory are considered potentially mined. More than 3 million hectares of forest are affected by the war.

He emphasized the importance of compensating for the damage at the expense of confiscated Russian assets.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Russian army blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam on the night of June 6. Following the explosion, Ukraine’s law enforcement officers started an investigation under the article on ecocide. Ukrainian hydropower plant operator Ukrhydroenergo stated that the Kakhovka HPP is completely destroyed and cannot be restored.