Environmental consequences of the war: will part of Ukraine become an “exclusion zone”?
8 January 13:54
[K] analysis
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the environment has suffered damage worth 2.2 trillion hryvnias. We are talking about the pollution of land, soil, air and water resources. According to the former Minister of Environmental Protection Ruslan Strilts, 3,600 crimes against the environment have been recorded so far, and demining is a priority for restoring ecosystems. Moreover, greenhouse gas emissions due to the war amount to 150 million tons of CO2, and the war has damaged hundreds of nature reserves and killed hundreds of species of animals and plants. What all this means for Ukraine and whether some territories may become uninhabitable for decades, was analyzed by Komersant ukrainskyi.
In an exclusive commentary for , environmentalist Oleksiy Vasylyuk expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the damage assessment.
“We can hardly give exact figures because the researchers did not have the opportunity to systematically examine the areas that were most affected,”
– the expert emphasized.
Vasilyuk also noted that the available research is based only on expeditions, the results of which do not reflect the real extent of the damage. Any amounts announced are only what was calculated.
“The real damage is much greater. Even if you name trillions of hryvnias, it will look unrealistic, because such money simply does not exist,”
– explains the ecologist.
Intensity of hostilities: bombing of nature
According to the ecologist, ammunition has the greatest impact on the environment. Millions of shells used during the war have significantly worsened the state of the environment. The expert notes that the amount of ammunition fired in just one year exceeded the use during the decades of the Sino-Japanese War.
“The entire content of the ammunition used during the war ended up in the environment. Water, soil, even air are contaminated with these substances. No other factor can match the damage caused by munitions explosions. They destroy the microorganisms in the soil, on which its fertility depends,”
– says Oleksiy Vasylyuk.
The fact that such contamination cannot be completely eliminated is particularly worrying. Chemical compounds accumulate, are carried by rains and remain active for many years, the ecologist notes. Moreover, they enter the food chain, accumulating in animals and humans.
“Even after 100 years, the consequences of the war will still be felt. For many territories, it looks like a sentence.”
Oleksii Vasyliuk
Forest fires: the disappearance of the “lungs” of the steppe zone.
Forest fires became one of the largest environmental disasters of the war. These plantations were created back in Soviet times to combat the difficult natural conditions of the steppe zone, including strong dry winds.
“According to our data, about 100,000 hectares of forests are covered by fires. The State Forestry Agency calls the figure 60 thousand, but we are convinced that this estimate is underestimated by 40%,”
– Vasilyuk is convinced.
Restoration of such forests will take decades. According to experts, in today’s conditions, the solution may be to create natural ecosystems instead of artificial plantations. However, this also requires significant resources and time.
Kakhovka tragedy: a disaster without precedent
The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was the largest accident involving hydropower facilities in human history. The consequences include the destruction of:
- the reservoir’s ecosystems;
- flora and fauna living on its bottom
- thousands of hectares of agricultural land in the flooded area.
“What happened as a result of the terrorist attack caused damage that was unprecedented in history: water bodies, soils and marine ecosystems were simultaneously affected,”
– the expert comments.
Another topic is economic challenges, as the resources already invested in new water pipelines may be useless if the recovery scenario changes.
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Will Ukraine become an “exclusion zone”?
The problem of chemical contamination in Ukraine is much larger. Environmentalists point out that the restoration of contaminated areas may be virtually impossible.
“Talking about a complete cleanup of this scale is utopian. Even if the war ends tomorrow, chemical contamination will remain relevant for decades to come,”
– emphasizes Oleksiy Vasylyuk.
According to various estimates, some of Ukraine’s territories may remain unsuitable for agriculture or residential construction. Even if Russia pays compensation, this will not completely solve the problem.
International experience: “red zones” in France and other countries
The problem of chemical contamination of military zones is global. In France, after the First World War, the so-called “red zone” appeared – territories that are completely excluded from civilian use due to soil toxicity.
“Since 1918, these lands have not been used and remain under constant surveillance because of the health hazards”
Oleksii Vasyliuk
A similar practice was used in Germany. The forests near Berlin have not yet been cleared of mines after World War II. In such cases, countries decide to leave these zones untouched, because their cleanup is extremely expensive and risky.
Restoring nature: challenges and realities
Oleksiy Vasylyuk emphasizes that restoring ecosystems is a long process that requires not only financial investments but also a systematic approach:
“Money can build factories, but it is impossible to restore nature. It takes time and effort.”
Nature is partially restored on its own. For example, in the area of the damaged Kamianske Reservoir, a young forest with trees over 5 meters high was formed in a year and a half.
At the same time , vacated areas abandoned due to the hostilities are becoming a center for the spread of invasive plant species, such as ragweed, which is a strong allergen. This complicates the restoration of local ecosystems and creates additional threats to human health.
One of the main problems is the lack of ecologists who can conduct comprehensive research.
“Many specialists are mobilized or work in other areas. Therefore, environmental impacts are investigated by journalists who travel with expeditions,”
– says Oleksiy Vasylyuk.
According to the ecologist, the state also does not take damage assessment seriously enough. Some of the data collected by state inspections is skeptical due to the lack of verification and systematic analysis.
What’s next?
The environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine are striking. Environmental restoration requires significant international investment and time. However, experts are convinced that instead of restoring artificial plantations and outdated farming models, nature-based solutions should be created.
“A new ecological reality can be built on the site of ruins and destroyed landscapes. It will become a symbol of sustainability and revival.”
Oleksiy Vasylyuk
Ukraine should take into account the experience of other countries and start formulating a strategy for managing contaminated areas right now, the ecologist summarizes. It is also important to draw the attention of the international community to the problem, as the scale of damage exceeds the capabilities of one country.
