War and the environment: Ukraine estimates environmental damage from 1,000 days of war

Ukraine has suffered enormous environmental losses during the full-scale war. Environmental damage from 1,000 days of hostilities is estimated at about $71 billion. This data was announced by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Svitlana Grinchuk, during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) taking place in Baku.

According to the minister, the war has had a catastrophic impact on the country's ecosystem. Shelling and large-scale forest fires have led to the release of an additional 180 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These emissions are exacerbating the problem of global warming, while at the same time reducing the potential for the restoration of natural resources.

Due to hostilities, Ukrainian forests have lost the ability to absorb 1.7 million tons of greenhouse gases each year. In addition, the war has already destroyed 3 million hectares of forest, causing irreparable damage to the region's biodiversity. The territory of Ukraine contaminated with explosives is 139 thousand square kilometers, which is almost twice the area of ​​Azerbaijan.

Despite the ongoing aggression, Ukraine is actively working to restore the environment. Through the efforts of citizens and international partners, 555 million trees have been planted on an area of ​​​​over 75 thousand hectares. These measures are aimed at compensating for forest losses caused by fires and other military actions.

Grinchuk also highlighted the successes in demining. In particular, explosives have been neutralized on an area of ​​​​35 thousand square kilometers, which was made possible thanks to international support. However, much work remains ahead, as a significant part of the country remains dangerous for living and doing business.

Ukraine calls on the international community to provide more active support in overcoming the environmental consequences of the war. Environmental restoration is one of the key areas in the country's reconstruction, requiring efforts from both national and global institutions.