Damage to environment caused by Russian aggression surpasses US$46 billion
The damage to the environment caused by the Russian armed aggression surpassed US$46 billion. Ukraine will demand compensation from Russia.
Source: Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, in a comment for The Economist media outlet, as reported by the ministry’s press service
"As of today, the main part of estimated damage is air pollution, US$27 billion. Within only 10 months of the Russian invasion, over 42 million tonnes of greenhouse gases were released into the air. This quantity may be compared to annual emissions of Bulgaria," reported the minister.
The main reasons for the emissions were forest fires and the occupiers’ attacks on the energy infrastructure facilities. According to the reports of the State Ecological Inspection, over 680,000 tonnes of oil and fuel were burned due to the Russian attacks.
Herewith, the war damaged almost a third of Ukrainian forests. At least 23,300 hectares have burned down completely.
The war seriously "poisoned" the Ukrainian soil as well, the estimated damage is US$18 billion.
In total, Ukraine has documented almost 2,300 crimes against the environment since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
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