Russia causes US$54 billion worth of environmental damage to Ukraine

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine has developed a new methodology of environmental damage observation and calculation, according to which the damage caused by Russia is currently estimated as UAH2 trillion (US$54 billion).

Source: Ukrinform, citing Ruslan Strilets, Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine

Quote: "We have developed a new methodology together with our environmental inspection, and [we] use seven types of methodology and have already calculated UAH2 trillion worth of damage. 

This includes pollution of land, air, water, burnt forests, and destroyed natural resources. Our main goal is to show these figures to everyone so that they can be seen in Europe and the world; so that everyone understands what the price of this environmental damage is and how to restore this damage to Ukraine," the minister said.

According to him, forests are suffering the most at the moment. Almost 3 million hectares of forest have been damaged due to Russian aggression. This is almost a third of Ukraine's forested area. Almost 500,000 hectares are now under temporary occupation or in the combat zone.

Strelets also noted that 10 national parks, eight nature reserves and two biosphere reserves are currently under Russian occupation. He said 600 species of fauna and 750 species of flora are under threat of extinction.

Background:

Russian aggression caused damage to Ukraine's environment in the amount of more than UAH 1.74 trillion [approximately US$46 billion] during the first 11 months of the war.

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