In 2022 and 2023, during the full-scale invasion, Ukraine lost forest cover over an area of more than 1,579 km². This figure was reported by Italian scientists in their study published in the scientific journal Global Ecology and Conservation.
The researchers analyzed the state of Ukraine's forests using remote sensing methods and artificial intelligence (AI), which they trained to detect deforested areas. The study was conducted using Landsat 8 satellite imagery and the Random Forest machine learning algorithm.
Key Findings
A comparison of satellite images from 2022-2023 with data from 2021 revealed that forest areas decreased by:
- 807.56 km² in 2022
- 771.81 km² in 2023
Notably, 65.8% of all forest losses occurred in regions where active hostilities continue.
Most Affected Regions
- Kyiv region – 268.37 km² lost
- Kherson region – 214.14 km²
- Kharkiv region – 181.38 km²
- Luhansk region – 195.4 km²
- Donetsk region – 180.25 km²
Causes of Deforestation
Scientists note that the primary cause of forest loss has been widespread fires triggered by shelling and explosions. In some regions, such as Kherson, forest ecosystems were also affected by the 2022 drought and the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. As a result, large areas of floodplain forests along the Dnipro River have disappeared.
The authors of the study emphasized that forest restoration after the war must become a priority in Ukraine’s environmental policy. They warn that the loss of forested areas not only reduces biodiversity but also threatens food security and climate stability in the region.
Scientists have urged international environmental organizations and governments to support Ukraine in restoring its natural resources after the war.
"The environmental consequences of war know no borders, and addressing them is a shared responsibility for the entire world," they stressed.
