The consequences of armed conflict on pollution are difficult to quantify, mainly due to two factors: the restricted availability of data during combat and the omission of the significant carbon footprint of armies in calculations of global greenhouse gas emissions. There are many environmental impacts caused by the war in Ukraine, and in this article we will explore in detail how this conflict has affected the environment. The war, which has left a destructive mark on different levels, has not only affected society and economy, but has also devastated ecosystems. From aquatic ecosystems to endangered species, several areas of the natural environment have been severely damaged.
Environmental impact of the war in Ukraine
Numerous organisations have addressed the pollution caused by the war in Ukraine. One of these organisations, the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), conducted an assessment on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. CEOBS identified five categories of environmental damage resulting from the conflict. These include water pollution, destruction of ecosystems, damage to agricultural infrastructure, forest fires and the emission of polluting gases.
In May 2022, one of the most significant environmental incidents This occurred at the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol. The plant was bombed, destroying its energy facilities and storage facilities for contaminated water. It also affected drinking water systems, creating a major environmental disaster. This incident highlights the risks inherent in the militarization of industrial facilities.
Another alarming incident is the militarization of nuclear power plants, such as the Zaporizhia plant, one of the largest in Europe. Nuclear power plants under military pressure have increased the risk of a nuclear disaster, and poor management of nuclear waste has increased air, water and soil pollution. This includes the release of heavy metals and other dangerous pollutants that have devastating effects on ecosystems.
Furthermore, the agricultural destruction has resulted in the loss of hundreds of hectares of arable land due to landmines and farmers abandoning their land. This has compromised food security in much of Ukraine, further exacerbating the country's economic and environmental crisis.
Ecological devastation during the war
According to the report of EcoAction, a Ukrainian environmental monitoring organization, more than 2023 cases of swine flu have been documented by December XNUMX. 1.549 cases of ecological damage in several regions of the country, including areas such as Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv and Kherson. Much of this damage occurred in areas close to the front lines, where shelling not only destroyed infrastructure but also caused forest fires.
These forest fires are responsible for the increase in carbon emissions into the atmosphere, exacerbating the global climate crisis. Although the Geneva Conventions prohibit attacks that damage the environment, the conflict in Ukraine has shown that the effects of war can be long-term. Article 35 of Protocol I It explicitly prohibits the use of tactics or weapons that cause lasting environmental damage, a regulation that has been repeatedly violated during the conflict.
The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam In June 2023, it was one of the largest ecological disasters of the conflict. The release of 18 cubic kilometers of contaminated water flooded more than 120 square kilometers of forest in the Kherson region, releasing toxic substances, pesticides and heavy metals that further damaged the area's ecosystems.
Impacts on water and biodiversity
The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam also compromised the supply of drinking water in areas such as Kryvyi Rih, where an estimated 80% of the water supply was rendered unusable. This severely affected the local population, leaving thousands without access to clean drinking water.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) identified 54 areas of severe contamination in Ukraine after the Nova Kakhovka disaster. Many of these areas contained industrial waste, oil pollutants and pesticides that came into contact with the surrounding ecosystems, making the recovery of these environments a task that could take decades.
The catastrophe also affected critical infrastructure, such as the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which relied on water from the dam for cooling. The release of more than two million cubic metres of industrial waste was a clear example of how armed conflicts can cause long-term ecological disasters.
Carbon emissions from the military
Another critical aspect of the Ukraine war is its impact on carbon dioxide emissions, a contribution that has been ignored in many international treaties on climate change, such as the Paris Agreement. However, according to estimates by EcoActionIn the first 18 months of the conflict, Ukraine emitted more than 150 million tons of CO2, exceeding the annual emissions of European countries such as Belgium. This raises the urgency of accounting for military emissions in global carbon reduction pacts.
It is worrying that if the military forces were considered a nation, they would be the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases of the world, representing 5.5% of total global emissions
Furthermore, massive ecosystem destruction and carbon release due to forest fires and bombings have contributed significantly to global climate change. Emissions associated with the use of missiles, tanks and fighter jets have not been properly accounted for in total emissions, further exacerbating the climate crisis.
The conflict in Ukraine has not only caused social and economic devastation, but has left an environmental footprint that will persist for years. The need to include environmental impact in international agreements for the country’s recovery is essential to ensure a safer and more sustainable future. Meanwhile, the militarisation of infrastructure and rising carbon emissions only highlight the urgency of addressing the environmental impact of armed conflict, both in Ukraine and elsewhere around the world.