Russian-Ukrainian war: Environmental crimes

In Ukraine more and more regions become war hotspots. Among them are protected areas. Pollution incidents have already put millions of people and ecosystems into long-term risk. During the war protected areas can be damaged or totally destroyed, and people who protected them, beside these responsibilities, had to join the army or help people who relocated from hotspots.

European Wilderness Society continues to stand for Ukraine and supports activities to save protected areas. The aim is to engage the international community in this process and the first step is to raise awareness.

Animals under bombs

Not only people but also animals suffer from the invasion of Russian troops, shelling of settlements and damage to infrastructure in Ukraine. Hundreds of wild animals that depend on people in zoos and eco parks are now in mortal danger due to cessation of care and lack of food. For instance, in Kyiv and Kharkiv, civilian volunteers are trying to save animals at the risk of their lives, but are facing shelling and attacks by Russian troops.

A private zoo near Kharkiv is trying to evacuate animals and rescue them from escalating hostilities, which have already gravely affected the site. Since the beginning of the war, the Feldman ecopark has been under constant fire. The park’s collection includes more than 300 species of animals.

On March 8, two employees tried to feed the animals, but died under the mortar fire from the invaders. On March 9, kangaroos were killed in shelling. A large number of animals remain in the zoo, only some of them were evacuated or housed. On 21st of March lamas and monkeys succesfully evacuated to Poltava, but hundreds of animals stayed in Kharkiv.

Radiation risk

February 24th saw fighting around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and now it is under the Russian soldiers’ control. Chernobyl has already become a part of propaganda tool used by the Kremlin. Meanwhile, the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament cautioned that it could be used for a Russian false-flag incident. Given the symbolism of Chernobyl, it is likely to remain a key part of the environmental-propaganda war.

Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve located on this area. Russia’s use of heavy explosive weapons that spreading chemical pollution around and forces local habitants to migrate in other areas that can be dangerous for them.

Beyond sites linked to the nuclear industry, it should be noted that radioactive sources and materials can also be found in forests, lakes and fields. Finally, there are legitimate concerns that Russian tanks may be fielding 125mm depleted uranium ammunition and that assessments of wreckage should be undertaken.

On 28th of March Chornobyl nuclear station and the area around are under the control of Russian forces. Constant connection with works or any data about average amount of damage from there are missing.

On 26th of March the Ministry of Environmental Protection and natural resources reported that satellite data indicate the occurrence of 31 outbreaks of large fires in natural ecosystems and abandoned villages of the exclusion zone, covering a total area of ​​over 10,111 hectares. However, due to the limitations of remote sensing data currently used by our experts from NASA and ESA, the Ministry doesn’t not rule out the existence of a significant number of smaller sources of ignition. General increasing of the temperature in Ukraine made it worse and let the fire spread faster.

Main reasons of the catastrophe are:
— continuation of shelling and bombing by Russian army
— increase in temperature, no precipitation and dryness
— lack of full-fledged operation of the landscape protection system in the exclusion zone

Before the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ruslan Strilets, made a briefing with journalists about looting at the laboratory located in Chernobyl area. Almost 100 units of state-of-the-art costly analytical equipment, unique in Europe, have been looted and destroyed. The laboratory was important part of nature protection system, berceuse it provided services at any stage of radioactive waste management — from air conditioning to disposal.

Distraction of natural ecosystems

The fighting close to Kherson, to take the bridge over the Dnieper, resulted in fires in the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. These fires were detectable from space, and may have destroyed trees and unique habitats for birds in one the largest biosphere reserve in Ukraine.

The longer the conflict goes on, the greater the landscape level impacts will be. Thus far, Russian forces have stayed mainly to the road network and these have been the loci of fighting. However, this could change. Large military vehicles have made use of fields and cover for launches or concealment, however any impacts will likely be temporary.

Latest news about environmental loses

From all 1,236,366 hectares of the nature reserve fund of the highest protection 44% are in the war zones.

Approximately 4 million hectares of Ukraine are occupied by protected areas. Due to Russian aggression, natural ecosystems suffer from fortification construction, explosions, military transport, and so on. Those protected areas that have special administrations have the opportunity to receive funding, and such as Askania-Nova and zoos – even the opportunity to purchase animal food. Some national nature parks are in a zone of humanitarian crisis and their employees may not even have the basic means to provide for their own living needs.

The Ukrainian Nature Conversation group reports that the total area of ​​forests in the war zone, under the temporary control of Russian invaders or inaccessible to Ukraine, is more than 3 million hectares. In addition, in the occupied territories, there are numerous unique undisturbed places that do not have protected status. These are old swampy forests in the north of the country, steppes in the east and south, the Cretaceous mountains of Slobozhanshchina, all coastal ecosystems. We should not forget about the previously occupied Crimea and Donbas, which is also a treasure trove of unique natural ecosystems.

Ukrainian rangers defend the nature and people

Currently a lot of rangers joined the army, so they have lack of working hands to maintain job in protected areas. The employees who didn’t become a part of military forces have to deal with thousands of displaced people from near cities and villages seeking for shelter.
Many rangers of protected areas joint the army and we obviously lack people and ammunitions for them…

Brave colleague Ruslan Gleb joined Ukrainian army from the first days of the war. European Wilderness Society has a long-term successful cooperation with Ruslan. Ruslan was a local guide during conduction of the Wilderness Audit in different areas of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.

The Ukrainian government arranged the program for evacuation of protected areas employees. There are two main ways. The first one is relocation of employees from war zones to national nature parks in Ukraine which have less affection. People mainly choose this opportunity to save yourself because they don’t want to leave their birthplace. Many buildings in protected areas were transformed to hotels for relocated people. NGOs are collecting money to buy additional beds, washing machines, heaters and other suppliers what can transform administration buildings to the comfortable temporary shelters.

The second way is to move rangers to national parks in Europe, where they can get place to stay and education. Friendly European environmental organization will arrange training sessions to exchange experience with Ukrainian colleagues. Mainly, the topic of training will be European standards of work on protected areas to implement them after the war in Ukraine.