Smoke billows above buildings, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Odesa, Ukraine, in this handout image released on July 16, 2022. State Emergency Services of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS
Smoke billows above buildings, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Odesa, Ukraine, in this handout image released on July 16, 2022. State Emergency Services of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS Reuters / STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES OF UKRA

KEY POINTS

  • Ukraine recorded over 2,000 cases of destruction of natural ecosystems over the past six months, officials say
  • The ongoing conflict damaged almost a third of Ukraine's entire forest stock and affected 20% of its protected areas
  • More than 300 materials have been submitted to enforcement agencies, and an investigation is ongoing

Ukraine's environment has suffered around $26 billion worth of damage as a result of Russia's invasion, Ukrainian authorities claimed.

The cost of the ongoing conflict's damage to Ukraine's environment amounted to 962 billion Ukrainian hryvnias ($26 billion), the head of Ukraine's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources (MEPNR) Ruslan Strilets revealed during a Thursday briefing at the Kyiv headquarters of the civic initiative Media Center Ukraine.

Russia has launched more than 3,500 missiles into Ukraine, releasing emissions and contributing to soil contamination, said Strilets.

More than 46 million tons of contaminants were released into the air during all the explosions within Ukrainian territory, he said, according to a report by Media Center Ukraine.

In addition, 40 oil tank farms in Ukraine have reportedly been blown up, which released 499,000 tons of toxic substances into the atmosphere.

"The damage from emissions of polluting substances released into the air alone amounts to 823 billion hryvnias ($22.14 billion). Damage to soil and land exceeds 138 billion hryvnias ($3.7 billion)," Strilets claimed.

The MEPNR recorded more than 2,000 cases of destruction of natural ecosystems over the past six months, he said.

Russia's invasion allegedly damaged almost a third of Ukraine's entire forest stock as well as affected 20% of protected areas.

Almost 80% of the territory of Holy Mountains National Nature Park, which was occupied by Russian forces, has been destroyed, Strilets claimed.

"Russia showed what life is like under occupation," the official said.

The number of forest fires in Ukraine has allegedly increased as well.

There was only one large fire with an area of more than five hectares in Ukraine last year, but more than 100 of them were recorded this year, Strilets said.

The Ukrainian government continues to calculate the damage of Russia's invasion, he noted.

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More than 300 materials have been submitted to law enforcement agencies, and an investigation is ongoing.

"We clearly understand that this is important for the formation of lawsuits against Russia and for the Ukrainian people to receive compensation for environmental damage," Strilets was quoted as saying.

The MEPNR was able to make its calculations thanks to new methods developed by its experts to determine the amount of damage caused by the pollution of atmospheric air, land and water resources as a result of military aggression, Strilets explained.

Given Russian troops' superior weapons, air power and devastating use of artillery, Western defence analysts expect them to continue grinding forward
Given Russian troops' superior weapons, air power and devastating use of artillery, Western defence analysts expect them to continue grinding forward Russian Defence Ministry via AFP