During the 47th Ordinary Meeting of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, held on 27 October 2026, the Ukrainian delegation prevented the transfer of the Commission's chairmanship to the Russian Federation.
Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment, Iryna Ovcharenko, emphasised:
"A state that is waging a war of aggression and causing damage to the marine environment must not chair a body responsible for its protection."
In her statement, Ovcharenko also drew attention to the significant environmental consequences of Russian aggression for the entire Black Sea region. Attacks on infrastructure, damage to wastewater treatment facilities, contamination of water and soil, and the destruction of protected natural areas are creating threats that extend far beyond Ukraine's borders.
The hostilities are affecting the coastlines of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, the Danube and Dnipro deltas, and wetlands of international importance. Pollution spreads through the sea, while the consequences for marine ecosystems may persist for many years.
The Ukrainian delegation stressed that Russia's actions violate international law, contribute to marine pollution and undermine the joint efforts of coastal states to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, also known as the Bucharest Convention.
Ukraine called on the parties to the Convention to provide a clear assessment of the Russian Federation's actions and their environmental consequences, support efforts to assess the condition of the marine environment and the damage caused by the war, and take joint measures to prevent further pollution.
The Ukrainian delegation also raised the possibility of applying legal and procedural mechanisms to terminate Russia's participation in the bodies established under the Convention. The initiative will need to be considered by the contracting parties.
Ukraine's position remains consistent: protecting the Black Sea requires accountability from every coastal state. The Commission's chairmanship must be based on respect for international law and compliance with shared commitments to preserving the marine environment.
The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution is an important platform for cooperation among coastal states under the Bucharest Convention. Its work helps coordinate monitoring of the sea's environmental condition, facilitate data exchange and agree on measures to reduce pollution and preserve marine ecosystems.
For Ukraine, this mechanism is particularly important in drawing international attention to the environmental consequences of Russian aggression and developing joint solutions to protect and restore the Black Sea.
