In the verdant expanses of Ukraine, a silent calamity unfolds amidst the cacophony of war; over 60,000 hectares of forest land have been obliterated by Russian forces. The destruction, reported by NGL Media and corroborated by satellite imagery, represents not only an environmental disaster but also an economic blow, with the cost of damages soaring to at least 14 billion hryvnias ($360 million).
As per Ukraine’s intelligence reports, the Kremlin sanctioned the destruction of Ukrainian forests for military and commercial objectives at the onset of the full-scale conflict in 2022. This serves as another instance of the environmental ramifications stemming from Russia’s warfare.
The Holy Mountains National Nature Park, situated in the Kramatorsk and Bakhmut districts, stands out as one of the natural reserves gravely impacted in Donetsk Oblast. Since the commencement of the widespread invasion, military operations have been carried out in this region, leading to the devastation of 80% of the park’s expanse.
In Luhansk Oblast, the Russians are engaged in extensive deforestation activities, particularly alarming as only 11% of the region was forested prior to the onset of full-scale warfare. Given that Luhansk Oblast is primarily characterized by steppe landscapes, forests play a crucial role in this area by safeguarding against sandstorms, preserving moisture, and preventing soil erosion.
Furthermore, approximately 40-45% of the woodlands in Kharkiv Oblast have either been subjected to mining activities or have sustained fire-related damage. Amid the 2022 occupation of a segment of Kherson Oblast, a substantial portion of the forests endured fires, assaults, and deforestation. The forests in Kherson Oblast faced severe repercussions following the detonation of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in June 2023, leading to the inundation of nearly 55,000 hectares of woodland on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.
According to the findings by NGL.media, the conservative estimate places the cumulative worth of the decimated forest at over UAH 14 billion. This valuation solely encompasses the direct impact, specifically the appraisal of the timber that could have been harvested from the encompassing 60,000-plus hectares. These financial losses fail to encompass the potential environmental repercussions, which could entail significantly higher costs for restoration and mitigation efforts.
On January 31, Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets said that the environmental toll of Russia’s conflict has surpassed Hr 2.2 trillion ($56.6 billion). Additionally, he noted that Kyiv has documented 3,600 environmental transgressions committed by Russia.
Relevant articles:
– Media: Russia destroys over 60,000 hectares of Ukrainian forests
– Ukraine war latest: Russian missile ship set on fire near Kaliningrad, Ukraine’s intelligence claims, Kyiv Independent, Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:16:32 GMT
– Russia has destroyed over 60,000 hectares of Ukrainian forest worth almost US$360 million, Ukrainska Pravda, Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:55:15 GMT
– Russia destroys over 60,000 hectares of Ukrainian forests, causing damage to $360 million — online.ua, News.online.ua, Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:08:00 GMT