Dear friends!
2026 is fast approaching, but despite the “peace talks”, the war is far from over. The real end to the war, one which has been ongoing in Ukraine since 2014, will be the creation of conditions to prevent its resumption. Today, however, we see that the conflict is spreading beyond just Ukraine and Russia.
This trend is also evident in the field of environmental protection. The recent arrest of Ukrainian scientist Leonid Pshenychnov in Crimea showed that Russia continues to use the war to pursue its geopolitical ambitions around the world. Read our latest Review column to learn more about how Russia is using the war in Ukraine to add to its influence in the Arctic, the consequences of February’s drone attack on the protective sarcophagus at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and Ukrainian demands for compensation for climate damage resulting from the full-scale invasion:
Withdrawals by Russia and Belarus from international conventions highlights the use of international environmental and ecological institutions by authoritarian regimes for their own political purposes. When the standing committees of the Berne, Ramsar, and other conventions have condemned full-scale invasion or Russian repression, their frameworks automatically become “undesirable”. Eugene Simonov and Angelina Davydova explore the ways in which Belarus and Russia are abandoning international environmental standards:
Meanwhile, the Russian occupiers are also engaged outright in nature trafficking. Such activities were clearly revealed thanks to an investigation by Ukraine’s URSA.Media. Their team contacted representatives of the Askania-Nova occupation administration and was able to negotiate the purchase of rare Chapman’s zebras for 1 million Russian rubles (about US$13,000). Investigator Olha Tkach reveals how rare animals from Askania-Nova Nature Reserve are being sold and other challenges facing the reserve under occupation:
The geopolitical consequences of the war are visible throughout the region and are often manifested by increasingly authoritarian regimes. This is being seen in Georgia, a country facing a power monopoly by the ruling party after parliamentary elections in 2024. Read about how that country is abandoning its course to Europe and how environmental organizations and initiatives are trying to continue their work during that political crisis, the third article in our “Environmental Activists and War” series:
The confrontation between Ukraine and Russia continues at international meetings as well, including those devoted to environmental issues. At the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) recent Congress, Russia made another attempt to block a resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian organizations Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and Environment People Law were able to defend the IUCN’s decision. UWEC expert Oleksiy Vasilyuk reports on how the congress went for Ukraine:
Against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, people are contemplating its consequences. October saw the release of three films reflecting on the war and its impact on nature: “No Shade in the Forest”, “Animals in War” and “Natural Border”. They tell the stories of how nature is changing in the war zone, the lives of animals (and people) during the war, and how wetlands are used as natural fortifications. UWEC contributor Inha Pavliy reviews the movies:
Let me wish us all a Happy New Year with our families, enveloped by the support, attention, respect, and love that we all need in these difficult times. As one wise man said, we are not given trials that we cannot overcome. While it is always darkest before dawn, let us believe that dawn is near.
Lastly, we need your support to continue our high-quality work. Please consider a one-time or recurring donation to UWEC Work Group.
You can read more about the environmental consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on our website, Twitter (X), Facebook, Telegram and Bluesky.
We wish you strength, peace, and good news!
Alex Ovchinnikov, Editor in Chief, UWEC Work Group