Shell attacks on Ministry of Defence facilities inflicted UAH 367 billion in environmental damage

As of the first quarter of 2025, the environmental damage caused by shell attacks on Ukrainian military facilities is estimated at approximately UAH 367 billion, equivalent to around USD 9 billion.

The ecological consequences of russian aggression include the contamination of land with millions of tonnes of construction debris, concrete fragments, glass, asbestos, petroleum products, heavy metals, and explosive hazards, alongside the destruction of thousands of hectares of forest due to fires.

This was reported by Colonel Yurii Sytnyk, Head of the Environmental Safety Department at the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, during the roundtable ‘Environmental Security and War Consequences: Challenges, Threats, and Mitigation Strategies.’

He noted that this data only partially reflects the scale of environmental losses, as a comprehensive assessment requires extensive scientific research and ongoing monitoring.

“The Defence Forces of Ukraine daily protect our country, its people, infrastructure, and notably the natural environment, which suffers significant destruction. The ecological impacts of the war are as severe as humanitarian or economic consequences—they are already altering landscapes, polluting soils, water systems, and air, with long-term effects on public health and ecosystem resilience,” stated Colonel Yurii Sytnyk.

He added that, between 2023 and 2025, the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety has established cooperation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as part of projects aimed at ecological restoration.