Over 13000 civilians dead and 35548 injured since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Civilian casualties are undoubtedly one of the most horrific aspects of war. Yet, there is another victim, more silent and far less spoken of: the environment.
Did you know that Ukraine is home to 35% of Europe’s biodiversity and is part of a broader region referred to as the “Green Heart of Europe”? Just over two months after the start of the war, Ukraine’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources had announced that around 30% of the country’s protected areas, covering more than 1.2 million hectares, had been affected by the hostilities.
Wars directly impact the environment by destroying habitats and biodiversity, and indirectly by increasing the levels of pollution in the air, land and water. For example, bombings, deforestation and the construction of trenches and tunnels directly ruin habitats and disrupt wildlife, consequently causing species to migrate or become extinct. Chemical weapons, explosives and heavy machinery – employed by the military – release pollutants that settle in the water and soil, impacting the environment, not only at the time of the conflict but also in the future.
In June 2023, the explosion of the Kakhovka reservoir released more than 14 trillion litres of water, resulting in the flooding of the surrounding area. This consequently killed animals and ruined restorative wildlife initiatives connected to the Dnipro River. Additionally, the collapse of the dam decreased the water supply and released over 150 tons of machine oil into the Dnieper River.
The river scientist Oleksandra Shumilova suggested that the environmental impacts of the destruction of the dam are comparable to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Shelling, so to say constant bombing, has been occurring near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has stated: “What was once virtually unimaginable – shelling or other military activity taking place close to major nuclear facilities – has become a regular occurrence during this horrific war.” According to a report by the Conflict and Environment Observatory, damage or disruption from military attacks, power disruption, or organizational breakdowns near nuclear facilities has increased the risk of radioactive contamination.
Furthermore, the study “Climate Damage Caused by Russia’s War in Ukraine”, conducted by the Initiative on GHG Accounting of War, found that during just 12 months of conflict, greenhouse gas emissions totaled 120 million tCO₂e. This means that the war in Ukraine produced the equivalent of the total GHG emissions of Belgium over the same period.
Lastly, Askania-Nova, the largest steppe reserve in Europe, designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, is in great danger. Fires have burned a major part of the nature reserve. Animals have been reported stolen and others have died due to a lack of qualified scientific support and veterinary care.
The data and events cited are only examples. We need to remember that every missile and projectile explosion pollutes the air, water, and land with toxic substances. Large amounts of fossil fuels are used in military operations and vehicles. Post-war reconstruction significantly increases emissions. Every aspect of war has negative effects on the environment and contributes to climate change.
So, what happens to environmental protection in times of war? For many years, humanitarian law, the branch of law that regulates armed conflicts, did not mention environmental damage. Modern humanitarian law dates back to the second half of the 19th century. Nevertheless, environmental concerns arose only in the 1970s, starting from the use of herbicides such as Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.
These concerns evolved in the adoption of Article 55 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which specifically refers to the protection of the natural environment:
- Care shall be taken in warfare to protect the natural environment against widespread, long-term and severe damage. This protection includes a prohibition of the use of methods or means of warfare which are intended or may be expected to cause such damage to the natural environment and thereby to prejudice the health or survival of the population.
- Attacks against the natural environment by way of reprisals are prohibited.
This is the law. Yet the conflict still goes on and the environment is paying the price.
What has been done in practice so far to alleviate the problem? For instance, the UNDP has launched a project “to support government authorities in drawing up the necessary legislation for recording evidence of environmental damage caused by the Russian invasion, as well as practical mechanisms for collecting such evidence throughout Ukraine”. The Government of Ukraine and UNIDO jointly developed and launched the green industrial recovery programme 2024-2028. The UNEP, UNECE and OECD created the Platform for Action on the Green Recovery of Ukraine.
Sometimes, we do not reflect enough on the impacts of wars because we perceive them as distant, both geographically and in terms of situations so unreal that they seem impossible. Nevertheless, these conflicts are a harsh reality and their effects extend far beyond the countries directly involved, touching everyone. The environmental damage must not be underestimated, as its consequences are felt across the entire planet.
By Manuela Corrado
October 7, 2025
