Russia's war against Ukraine has continued for more than three years, leaving behind destroyed cities and broken lives and also scarred nature. The damage stretches far beyond the frontlines: mined fields, burned forests, polluted rivers and ruined protected areas that once safeguarded Europe's unique biodiversity.
In this analysis, we document the harm done to nature and protected territories - a slow-moving disaster with consequences that will last for generations.
Destruction of agricultural lands and soil contamination
The area of temporarily occupied agricultural land in Ukraine amounts to 8.0 million hectares (80,000 km²) , including 1.8 million hectares in Crimea, comprising 6.3 million hectares of arable land (63,000 km²), 1.3 million hectares in Crimea. (Brief: The Impact of Russian War on the Ukrainian Agricultural Sector and Global Food Security 2022-2024)
Large areas of farmland remain unusable. According to ISPI, of Ukraine's approximately 42 million hectares (420,000 km²) of agricultural land, only around 24 million hectares (240,000 km²) are currently safe and accessible for farming due to contamination by mines and explosive remnants of war.
Metal fragments from shells further pollute the environment. Ammunition casings, often made of cast iron mixed with steel, contain not only iron and carbon but also sulfur and copper. These substances can seep into the soil, drift into groundwater, and eventually penetrate food chains, affecting both humans and animals.
Three years of war have led to ~240,000 hectares of forest land damaged (2,400 km²) in southern and eastern Ukraine. (SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Science)
UWEC reports that 8,096 km² of Ukrainian territory have been affected by fires during two years of war, including 1,047 km² of forest burned due to military action and emergency services' failure to extinguish them.
Pollution from industrial waste following bombings of plants and storage facilities
By the end of 2024, environmental damage at 61 military sites had exceeded ₴42 billion ($1.00 billion), among them soil pollution, petroleum contamination, air emissions and forest losses. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence
Rivers
Ukrainian officials reported a deliberate chemical spill into the Seym River, which flows into the Desna River.
The contamination, originating from the Russian village of Tyotkino, involved the discharge of chemical waste (ammonia, magnesium and other toxic nitrates) from a sugar factory.
The spill caused a huge ecological collapse, with oxygen levels in the water dropping to almost zero. This resulted in the death of aquatic life over a 650-kilometre stretch. Almost 44 tonnes of dead fish were recovered, and emergency measures were taken to pump oxygen into the water. (The Guardian)
Black Sea
On December 15, 2024, two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, were caught in a storm in the Kerch Strait, resulting in a major oil spill in the Black Sea.
Tankers released at least 4300 m³ of heavy crude oil into the Black Sea. (IncidentNews)
However, the true scale of the spill may be significantly higher (up to 7,300-8,000 tonnes), as Russian authorities suppressed or concealed data on the extent of the environmental damage.
The spill reportedly killed at least 111 marine mammals, including dolphins and harbour porpoises, 175 seabirds and thousands of jellyfish along the Odesa coast. Mazut sinks or remains suspended in water, making cleanup difficult and prolonging environmental damage. The long-term ecological recovery of the affected marine ecosystems remains uncertain.
Also, the Black Sea faces a long-term threat from naval mines. Both Russia and Ukraine have laid mines in the region, primarily to deter coastal attacks. These mines pose a danger to commercial shipping and have been found drifting near Ukraine's ports,as well as in the waters of Türkiye, Bulgaria, and Romania.
Azov Sea
Military actions by Russian occupation caused significant damage to the Azov Sea coastal and marine habitats. Attacks on naval facilities, spills from vessels and the deployment of naval mines have threatened wetlands and offshore habitats.
Physical destruction from trenches, fortifications and shelling damaged plant life, increased soil erosion and disrupted biodiversity. Ecologists warn that noise and sonar from military operations have probably contributed to dolphin strandings.
Oil spills from tanker accidents have contaminated the coast near Berdyansk and other areas.
The destruction of industrial facilities, such as the Azovstal metallurgical plant, continues to pose chemical pollution risks to the sea. (EcoHubMap)
Kakhovka Dam Destruction
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6, 2023, by Russian forces is one of the biggest environmental disasters in Ukraine's history.
Two days after the breach, the Kherson Oblast's average flooding level was 5.61 meters (18.4 feet), as stated by officials.
The breach released approximately 18 km³ (≈ 4.75 trillion gallons) of water from Europe's largest reservoir in a 4-day period, flooding over 620 km² of land, including protected areas and national parks, as well as 3,300 km² of protected areas and 112.94 km² of forested areas. The rising water, reaching 4.57 meters (15 feet) in some areas, concealed minefields and transported explosives to new locations.
The floodwaters also exposed nearly 90,000 tonnes of heavy metals, including arsenic, nickel, and zinc, that had been previously trapped in the reservoir's sediments. These pollutants have entered the Dnieper River and the Black Sea, posing long-term health risks to humans and wildlife. (The Washington Post)
Additionally, the destruction of the dam disrupted water supply systems, leaving hundreds of thousands without access to clean drinking water. Flooding killed many animals and damaged farmland, homes and infrastructure. The loss of water from the reservoir could threaten the long-term water supply to Russian-controlled Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The total cost of the damage and losses from the incident is estimated to be nearly $14 billion, according to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report that was published in October 2023.
After the Kakhovka dam's destruction, the drained reservoir began transforming into a new floodplain forest, Velykyi Luh (The Great Meadow), spanning over 2,100 km², with wetlands, willows, poplars, and even the return of endangered species, such as the Ukrainian sturgeon. Yet, this recovery coexists with grave risks: toxic sediments continue to leach heavy metals, posing a threat to water, soil, and food chains. Ecologists also warn that political pressure to rebuild the dam could undo these fragile ecological gains.
In summary, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam has had profound and lasting impacts on Ukraine's environment, economy and public health. While signs of ecological recovery are emerging, the long-term consequences of this disaster continue to unfold.
Explosions of rockets, artillery and other munitions release a mix of harmful gases and fine dust into the atmosphere. These include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrogen cyanide vapour (HCN), formaldehyde and other toxic organic compounds.
Many of them contribute to acid rain, which damages vegetation, soils, and human health. At the same time, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and water vapour released during explosions are potent greenhouse gases, intensifying global climate change.
Burning tanks, vehicles, aircraft and other remnants of warfare also add to this toxic load, producing smoke and fine particulate matter that lingers in the air.
As of September 2025, the estimated damage amount, as reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, is ₴ 957.05 billion ($22.87 billion).
Direct losses of fauna: Russian shelling, airstrikes and landmines have killed large numbers of mammals, birds and amphibians.
Disruption of migration routes and ecological corridors: Active frontlines, minefields, and destroyed habitats block natural migration paths for hoofed mammals, birds and fish, fragmenting populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Loss of flora and habitat degradation: Forests, wetlands and steppe ecosystems have been burned, flooded or mechanically destroyed.
Threats to endemic and endangered species: Species such as the Ukrainian sturgeon in the Dnipro floodplains and steppe mammals in occupied areas face severe population declines due to habitat destruction and pollution.
Spread of invasive species: Disturbed ecosystems are more vulnerable to invasive plants and animals, which can outcompete native species and further alter ecosystem balance.
Long-term monitoring is limited due to occupation and active conflict zones, so the full ecological impact remains underestimated.
As a result of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, a significant portion of the country'sprotected natural areas are under temporary Russian occupation.
Many of them have suffered direct military damage, including fires, fortifications and the looting of scientific centres. Others face neglect, unsanctioned construction or deliberate repurposing by the occupying authorities. Occupation has also triggered illegal fishing and hunting, ecosystem degradation, pollution from military activity, illegal resource exploitation, such as mining and the destruction of park infrastructure.
These territories, once safeguarding rare species and unique ecosystems, are now at risk of irreversible loss.
Reserves on the peninsula are heavily impacted by unregulated construction, tourism expansion and military activity.
Ukraine now faces destroyed ecosystems, polluted soils, biodiversity losses and loss of unique European natural areas, all while struggling to rebuild with limited resources under ongoing war.
We hope this list of damages to Ukraine's environment does not grow, but the grim reality is that it likely will, as the aggressor state ceases fire only in words, not in action.
