Ukraine has recorded more than 8,000 instances of environmental damage due to military actions, with total losses already reaching nearly €85 billion.
This was reported by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Svitlana Grynychuk, during a meeting of the EU Environment Council, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
"Today, we understand that the consequences of Russia's armed aggression concern not only Ukraine but the entire continent. The damage has already reached almost €85 billion. Over 8,000 cases of environmental harm due to hostilities have been documented. More than 230 million tons of carbon have been released into the air. A quarter of Ukraine's territory remains mined and contaminated with unexploded ordnance. 850,000 hectares of forests are under occupation or in the combat zone," emphasized the minister.
EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Sustainability, and Circular Economy, Ségolène Rusvel, assured during the meeting that the European Union will continue to support Ukraine’s initiatives for documenting damage and international lawsuits concerning environmental destruction caused by the war. Ukraine can also count on assistance in developing EU integration initiatives, including improving environmental monitoring quality, which is a priority in the negotiation process.
Ministers expressed unwavering support and readiness to collaborate on key environmental issues. Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Croatia, Estonia, Italy, Spain, and Austria have already provided significant material, technical, and expert support to Ukraine in the field of environmental protection and are ready to continue ongoing projects and develop new ones.
