Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strylets, together with the head of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleh Bondarenko, Acting Chairman of the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine Ihor Zubovych, and the head of VELO Tetyana Tymochko, visited several sites affected by Russian missile strikes in Kharkiv region during their working trip.
"As of today, Kharkiv region has reported 1436 cases out of a total of 5298 cases of Russian ecocide in Ukraine. The environmental damage to the region amounts to 469 billion UAH. The damage solely from the 'Epicenter' attack totals 860 million UAH. The burning of this facility for a day and a half significantly worsened the environmental situation, releasing a large amount of hazardous substances such as paints, varnishes, and solvents into the air. This invisible threat affects not only Ukrainians but the entire world," stated Ruslan Strylets.
Another major case of environmental destruction was the attack with Shahed missiles on oil depots in Kharkiv region, causing damages estimated at 192 million UAH. Environmental components are closely interconnected. During the firefighting efforts at such facilities as oil depots and building materials stores, pollutants together with foam enter water bodies and soils.
"Today, it is crucial to modernize methodologies for calculating environmental damages from chemical pollution due to rocket attacks by Russia and to amend legislation to verify high-risk facilities for the presence of emergency localization and liquidation plans. The old plans were designed for peacetime, not continuous rocket attacks. This area requires updating," emphasized Ruslan Strylets.
"The Russians are targeting precisely those facilities that sustain the state's vital functions. Therefore, we must provide as much support as possible to our Armed Forces and diplomatically remind the world every day of Russia's crimes," added Strylets.
Ruslan Strylets, together with Deputy Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Yevhen Ivanov and Acting Chairman of DEI Ihor Zubovych, also delivered Starlink communication systems to the Separate Troops Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is crucial for our troops to maintain communication under any circumstances.
