She disclosed these figures during a recent briefing.
Scale of Environmental Losses
"More than €65 billion in damages and almost 6,500 cases of ecosystem destruction are the scale of environmental losses that our environmentalists and experts have been able to calculate so far. However, the real damage caused by the war on the environment is much greater," emphasized Minister Grynchuk.
She highlighted that the current estimates might not fully capture the extent of the devastation, especially considering the areas under occupation.
Irreparable and Irreversible Damage
The minister warned that the environmental harm caused by Russian military actions could be irreparable and irreversible for Ukraine's ecosystems.
"The explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, pollution of the Black Sea, and forest fires due to hostilities—all these can have irreversible consequences for nature. Each such case leads to changes in ecosystems and has repercussions that extend far beyond our country's borders," she noted.
Call to Action: Point 8 of the Peace Formula
Minister Grynchuk urged the international community to unite around Point 8 of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula and develop a concrete action plan to protect the environment. This point focuses on countering ecocide—the mass and deliberate destruction of flora, fauna, and all living organisms.
"For many years, the world has been battling climate change, striving for the good state of waters, and preserving natural ecosystems. The methods of war used by Russia negate years of work in this direction. While hundreds of organizations work towards this goal, the Russian aggressor distances humanity from it," the minister stressed.
Real Damage May Be Higher
She also pointed out that the current damage assessments do not include conditions in occupied territories, suggesting that the actual environmental losses could be significantly higher.
The environmental catastrophe resulting from the conflict underscores the urgent need for global cooperation to mitigate the damages and prevent further ecological degradation.
