Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group

Seeking solutions through information sharing about the environmental impacts of the war. UWEC Work Group.

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://uwecworkgroup.info/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Lake Baikal at War](https://uwecworkgroup.info/lake-baikal-at-war/) - by Eugene Simonov Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent changes in political and economic cooperation between Russia and the world inevitably impact the Russian government’s management of its internationally recognized biodiversity hotspots. Today, Russia has many fewer incentives to follow international laws and procedures in any sphere, nature conservation being no exception. There is widespread
- [Does Russia have a "green" future?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russias-true-green-greatness/) - by Eugene Simonov and Angelina Davydova Translated by Jennifer Castner The authors’ opinions as expressed are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of UWEC Work Group. This text is a joint publication of UWEC Work Group and Kedr.media. Modern politicians in Russia often talk about the need to
- [Dniester River – Evolution of transboundary river basin management in the post-Soviet space](https://uwecworkgroup.info/dniester-river-evolution-of-transboundary-river-basin-management-in-the-post-soviet-space/) - by Ilya Trombitskiy Translated by Nick Müller & Jennifer Castner Editor's Note: This article is the third in a series focusing on management of water resources (in peacetime and wartime). In UWEC Work Group’s first article on the management of transboundary basins during the war, the authors insisted that future interstate relations would need to
- [The Crimean Bridge: Environmental impact of Russia’s ‘project of the century’](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-crimean-bridge-environmental-impact-of-russias-project-of-the-century/) - by Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Alastair Gill This article continues a series devoted to the consequences of the nine-year annexation of Crimea Peninsula by the Russian Federation. Read the first article here.The seizure of Crimea and the installation of Russian-controlled authorities took place in 2014 without obvious military action. For this reason, the environmental consequences
- [A Review: "Russian civil society under repression"](https://uwecworkgroup.info/a-review-russian-civil-society-under-repression/) - Eugene Simonov UWEC Work Group has long aspired to explore the transformation of Russian environmental civil movements under war-time pressures. The June 2026 special issue of Baltic Worlds (Vol. XIX:2), titled "Russian civil society under repression: Adapting, but not surrendering" is just such an opportunity. UWEC reviews several analyses of the Russian environmental movement. Baltic
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: June 2026 review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-june-2026-review/) - Alex Ovchinnikov The UWEC editorial team continues to share highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the environmental consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info) or contacting us via social networks. Two Kyiv lakes
- [Ten years of sea arbitration—limited gains for Ukraine, a step forward for environmental law ](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ten-years-of-sea-arbitration-limited-gains-for-ukraine-a-step-forward-for-environmental-law/) - Margo Moore and Eugene Simonov The 2026 arbitral ruling in the decade-long maritime dispute between Ukraine and Russia delivered a landmark, albeit mixed, outcome. While the Tribunal dismissed Ukraine’s navigational and “aggravation of the dispute” claims, it ruled that Russia violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by failing to
- [Moscow’s black skies send a message to the world: oil must remain in the ground](https://uwecworkgroup.info/moscows-black-skies-send-a-message-to-the-world-oil-must-remain-in-the-ground/) - By Oleh Savytskyi The “oil rain” that fell over Moscow after the partially self-inflicted blasts at the Gazprom Neft refinery is a disturbing image of what fossil fuel infrastructure means in wartime. Burning oil tanks, toxic smoke, contaminated precipitation and risks to soil and water are real environmental harms. They should not be dismissed. But
- [Safe haven: How Ukraine’s zoos are saving animals in spite of war](https://uwecworkgroup.info/safe-haven-how-ukraines-zoos-are-saving-animals-in-spite-of-war/) - Yuliia Spinova Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has sharply altered the contours of life for the whole country. While all living beings in Ukraine are in danger, animals’ chances of survival in wartime conditions differ drastically, whether for wild animals in their natural environment or for those in human care in zoos, animal shelters and
- [In oil wars, the environment and public health lose—both in Ukraine and Russia](https://uwecworkgroup.info/in-oil-wars-the-environment-and-public-health-lose-both-in-ukraine-and-russia/) - Eugene Simonov Russia has been destroying Ukrainian oil facilities since it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, but Ukraine is now hitting back, forcing Russian media to finally recognize the environmental and social consequences of such strikes—but only in Russian territory. UWEC looks at the history of attacks on oil infrastructure in wartime and the
- [Six-legged stowaways: The dangerous insects hitching a ride to war-torn Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/six-legged-stowaways-the-dangerous-insects-hitching-a-ride-to-war-torn-ukraine/) - Stanislav Viter In an environmental context, war isn’t just about pollution caused by explosives or the destruction of infrastructure. The uncontrolled movement of people and goods facilitates the spread of unwanted species and disease carriers such as insects—as Ukraine is now finding out. Insects are the most numerous group of living beings on Earth, accounting
- [Blind restoration: What lessons do other countries have for Ukraine’s green recovery?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/blind-restoration-what-lessons-do-other-countries-have-for-ukraines-green-recovery/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk The issue of Ukraine’s postwar recovery has shadowed military events since the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion. And the more destruction is inflicted, the greater in scale and extent, and the longer and more costly recovery work will be. Despite the absence of a convincing vision for when and how exactly Russia’s
- [Preserve the Great Meadow as a UNESCO World Heritage Site](https://uwecworkgroup.info/preserve-the-great-meadow-as-a-unesco-world-heritage-site/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant and its reservoir, Ukrainian and international institutions appealed to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications and the Ukrainian National Commission for UNESCO, calling for the inscription of the Dnipro River Great Meadow on the UNESCO Tentative List
- [Ukraine Recovery Plan: environmental “blind spots” in RDNA reports](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraine-recovery-plan-environmental-blind-spots-in-rdna-reports/) - Discover how RDNA reports overlook biodiversity, wetlands, and climate adaptation, creating environmental risks for Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
- [Re-dam or to restore the Dnipro: What are the goals of International Financial Institutions in the Dnipro River valley?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/re-dam-or-to-restore-the-dnipro-what-are-the-goals-of-international-financial-institutions-in-the-dnipro-river-valley/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk and Eugene Simonov Throughout the years of full-scale war, the tactics chosen by the Russian army have focused on capturing or destroying the most powerful power generation facilities. All hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) along the Dnipro River have sustained serious damage during the war, and the Kakhovka HPP was completely destroyed—an event that
- [Soil and water in Ukraine are contaminated with toxic substances](https://uwecworkgroup.info/soil-and-water-in-ukraine-are-contaminated-with-toxic-substances/) - Mines and unexploded ordnance contaminate soil and water of Ukraine with toxic substances. Explore environmental risks, demining impacts, and ecocide concerns.
- [Espoo Convention: Does cross-border environmental impact assessment work in war zones?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/espoo-convention-does-cross-border-environmental-impact-assessment-work-in-war-zones/) - Polina Tsybulska In today’s world, where armed conflicts are becoming increasingly frequent, the environmental consequences of war extend beyond national borders, threatening not only local ecosystems but also global stability. Can the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) help counter cross-border effects—in Ukraine and elsewhere? On 25 February 1991,
- [RDNA5 Report on Ukraine: a brief look at environmental gaps](https://uwecworkgroup.info/rdna5-report-on-ukraine-a-brief-look-at-environmental-gaps/) - RDNA reports guide Ukraine’s recovery, but environmental risks remain. Discover key gaps in data, funding focus, and green rebuilding challenges.
- [The Zone and the war: the new tragedy of Chornobyl](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-zone-and-the-war-the-new-tragedy-of-chornobyl/) - Alex Ovchinnikov 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. Russia’s full-scale invasion has once again reminded us that radioactive contamination remains with us. And although the lessons of Chornobyl could potentially be applied in rebuilding wartorn eastern Ukraine, the nuclear threat has returned. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has affected not only the Chornobyl
- [Underwater migrants: the invasive species upsetting ecosystems in Ukraine’s Black Sea waters](https://uwecworkgroup.info/underwater-migrants-the-invasive-species-upsetting-ecosystems-in-ukraines-black-sea-waters/) - Maria Shevchuk How is Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine related to the spread of invasive species in the Black Sea, and who are the new arrivals? Do these “underwater migrants” pose a threat to the Black Sea ecosystem? We asked Ukrainian marine biologists how aquatic biodiversity is changing in the region. During the summer of
- [Black Sea dolphins and porpoises: the impact of war on marine mammals](https://uwecworkgroup.info/black-sea-dolphins-and-porpoises-the-impact-of-war-on-marine-mammals/) - How war affects Black Sea dolphins and porpoises. Discover key threats, pollution risks, and ecosystem changes in the region.
- [Kreminski Forests National Park in the Luhansk region devastated by the war](https://uwecworkgroup.info/kreminski-forests-national-park-in-the-luhansk-region-devastated-by-the-war/) - War devastates Kreminski Forests National Park in Luhansk. Learn how battles, logging and occupation destroyed a unique ecosystem.
- [Carbon dioxide emissions from the war in Ukraine grew by 75 million tons](https://uwecworkgroup.info/carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-the-war-in-ukraine-grew-by-75-million-tons/) - Russian invasion drives 311M tons CO2 emissions and widespread environmental damage during war in Ukraine. Discover key impacts and long-term risks to nature.
- [Russia establishes “Velykyi Luh” National Park in occupied Zaporizhzhia](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russia-establishes-velykyi-luh-national-park-in-occupied-zaporizhzhia/) - Russia establishes Velykyi Luh National Park in occupied Zaporizhzhia. Discover ecological and political implications of the decision.
- [Militarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant increases risks to nuclear safety](https://uwecworkgroup.info/militarization-of-the-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-increases-risks-to-nuclear-safety/) - Satellite images reveal militarization at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Learn how military activity threatens nuclear safety in the region.
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: Dec 2025 – February 2026 review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-dec-2025-february-2026-review/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov The UWEC editorial team continues to share highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info) or contacting us via social networks. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine
- [Toxic legacy of the war in the air we breathe](https://uwecworkgroup.info/toxic-legacy-of-the-war-in-the-air-we-breathe/) - War in Ukraine reshapes air pollution with toxic spikes, fires, and dirty fuels. Discover how conflict creates long-term environmental and health risks.
- [How new technology is helping make Ukraine’s demining process greener](https://uwecworkgroup.info/how-new-technology-is-helping-make-ukraines-demining-process-greener/) - Yelizaveta Temchenko Russia’s war on Ukraine has resulted in large tracts of land being seriously polluted with explosive objects and damaged by military action. These dangerous areas require clearing before they can be returned to agricultural, infrastructural or conservation use. New technology promises to play an invaluable role in this process. In the course of
- [Ukraine’s peatlands and wetlands: climate value, legal gaps and restoration urgency](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraines-peatlands-and-wetlands-climate-value-legal-gaps-and-restoration-urgency/) - Ukraine’s wetlands store vast carbon but face extraction and drainage. Learn why restoration and legal reform are urgent.
- [Ukraine’s green recovery: legislative step toward eco-integration in reconstruction](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraines-green-recovery-legislative-step-toward-eco-integration-in-reconstruction/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk On June 30 in Kyiv, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine presented the first version of the draft bill “On the Fundamentals of Green Recovery of Ukraine”. The presentation event was announced as the beginning of a national discussion of key instruments for “green” post-war reconstruction. According to the
- [Environmental and Climate Activism in the time of invasion: Georgia](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-and-climate-activism-in-the-time-of-invasion-georgia/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov In the first part of this series we reported on the persecution and pressure that environmental activists have faced in Belarus since 2020 and which have only increased since the full-scale invasion. In part two, we look at the situation in Georgia, a country that is also currently mired in political crisis. With
- [Building Back Business as usual: Can the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment provide strategic planning support for green rebuilding of Ukraine?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/building-back-business-as-usual-can-the-rapid-damage-and-needs-assessment-provide-strategic-planning-support-for-green-rebuilding-of-ukraine/) - Eugene Simonov and Oleksiy Vasyliuk In the wake of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the World Bank, alongside the Government of Ukraine, the European Commission, and the United Nations, shifted from traditional country strategies to a dynamic series of assessments. These core strategic documents, known as the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessments, integrate on
- [Liquid iron curtain: how the Dnipro turned from a cradle of life into a weapon of mass destruction](https://uwecworkgroup.info/liquid-iron-curtain-how-the-dnipro-turned-from-a-cradle-of-life-into-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/) - How control of the Dnipro River became a weapon in the Russia–Ukraine war. Discover the hydropolitics, Kakhovka dam disaster, and water security risks.
- [Fiber-optic drone pollution in Ukraine: environmental risks and scientific uncertainty](https://uwecworkgroup.info/fiber-optic-drone-pollution-in-ukraine-environmental-risks-and-scientific-uncertainty/) - How fiber-optic drones create microplastic risks and wildlife threats in Ukraine. Scientific findings and expert views explained.
- [Fiber-optic drone waste in Ukraine: environmental impact and post-war risks](https://uwecworkgroup.info/fiber-optic-drone-waste-in-ukraine-environmental-impact-and-post-war-risks/) - How fiber-optic drone waste may affect demining, wildlife, and ecosystems in post-war Ukraine. Key risks explained.
- [Just transition for coal-mining communities: What is it and how does it work in wartime Ukraine?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/just-transition-for-coal-mining-communities-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work-in-wartime-ukraine/) - Inha Pavlii Just ten years ago, the coal industry was one of Ukraine’s largest industries. However, with the beginning of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine in 2014, the decay of mining towns in temporarily-occupied territories, accumulating industry debts, and the unstable economic situation have led to the industry’s gradual decline. These challenges stimulated the development
- [‘А la guerre comme à la guerre’: Military geopolitics see return of controversial megaprojects](https://uwecworkgroup.info/а-la-guerre-comme-a-la-guerre-military-geopolitics-see-return-of-controversial-megaprojects/) - Eugene Simonov Translated by Alastair Gill The war in Ukraine and rising global tensions have seen renewed interest among European politicians in supporting dubious gigantic infrastructural projects as a way of buying the loyalty of countries who would otherwise turn to Russia and China for help. In this article, UWEC Work Group expert and river
- [Environmental and Climate Activism in the time of invasion: Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-activism-in-crisis-ukraine/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov In the third and final part of this series we look at the consequences of the Russian invasion for environmental activism in Ukraine. Ukrainian environmental and climate organizations and initiatives have been directly affected by the war, working under shelling and missile attacks, analyzing the environmental consequences of the invasion and lobbying for
- [International banking projects and restoring the Lower Dnipro’s ecosystems](https://uwecworkgroup.info/international-banking-projects-and-restoring-the-lower-dniepers-ecosystems/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk, Eugene Simonov Translated by Jennifer Castner International development banks are extremely important participants in Ukraine's recovery. It is important for civil society to engage in dialogue with them, and banks must comply with strict social and environmental requirements as well as discuss projects with civil society. The war has inflicted tremendous damage on
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: February review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-february-review/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info), or contacting us via social networks. Environmental agreement for Ukraine needs reworking,
- [2023 Journalism Webinar Series](https://uwecworkgroup.info/2023-journalism-webinar-series/) - Environmental Consequences of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine With support from RSF Sweden and Svea Green Foundation, the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group (UWEC) is launching a webinar series for Russian-speaking journalists about the environmental and climate impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. UWEC Work Group members and invited experts will speak about the impacts
- [Between war and nature conservation: Who wins when aggressor countries withdraw from environmental agreements?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/between-war-and-nature-conservation-who-wins-when-aggressor-countries-withdraw-from-environmental-agreements/) - Eugene Simonov, Angelina Davydova In the first year of the war, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society organizations persistently proposed to expel countries that had launched military invasions from any (multilateral) international treaties, including environmental and climate agreements. UWEC authors have repeatedly attempted to analyze the consequences of possible expulsions. Now, as
- [Merging ministries: Will changes in the structure of Ukraine’s government roll back the environmental agenda?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/merging-ministries-will-changes-in-the-structure-of-ukraines-government-roll-back-the-environmental-agenda/) - Inha Pavlyi Ukraine has reorganized its ministerial structure, merging its environmental, economic and agricultural ministries into a single body. Will the move result in more effective environmental governance or a worsening of the situation or hamstring Ukraine’s green policy? And how have Ukrainian environmental organizations reacted to the reshuffle? On July 21, 2025 the Cabinet
- [List of Information Centers and Monitoring Tools](https://uwecworkgroup.info/list-of-information-centers-and-monitoring-tools/) - Environmental damage is incalculable, but still must be documented. We have compiled a publicly available metadatabase of environmental information sources for use in times of war. The “List of Information Centers and Monitoring Tools” includes links to monitoring tools, databases, and knowledge bases accumulating information directly relevant to the war’s environmental consequences. The list includes
- [The Ramsar split—was it inevitable, and what should be done next?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-ramsar-split-was-it-inevitable-and-what-should-be-done-next/) - Eugene Simonov, Angelina Davydova In denouncing the Ramsar Convention Russia expressed its disagreement with the allegedly “anti-Russian position” of the convention’s parties. Subsequently, Russian president Vladimir Putin decreed that the convention’s goals be implemented (outside of it) using domestic policy measures and bilateral agreements. UWEC spoke with international experts to understand the framework within which
- [Sleight of land: How Russian authorities in occupied Crimea are using legal trickery to develop protected areas](https://uwecworkgroup.info/sleight-of-land-how-russian-authorities-in-occupied-crimea-are-using-legal-trickery-to-develop-protected-areas/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk and Viktoria Hubareva The self-proclaimed government of occupied Crimea is cynically lopping off chunks of the Yalta Mountain Forest Nature Reserve in order to build lucrative residential and tourist infrastructure. Russian military aggression against Ukraine dates back to 2014, when Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula and subsequently fomented an armed conflict in the
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: October - November 2024 Review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-october-november-2024-review/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info), or contacting us via social networks. Greenpeace study shows nuclear crisis in
- [Does REPowerEU Reinforce or Contradict the Green Deal?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/does-repowereu-reinforce-or-contradict-the-green-deal/) - By Eugene Simonov To reduce reliance on Russian oil and gas the European Union created a bold REPowerEU plan intended to diversify supplies and hasten the clean energy transition beyond targets recently set by Green Deal legislation. The €210 billion plan includes diverse measures from building more gas infrastructure to development of large-scale transnational trade
- [An environmental perspective: Are sanctions against Russia working, and if not, why not?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/an-environmental-perspective-are-sanctions-against-russia-working-and-if-not-why-not/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov Sanctions on the export of Russian fossil fuels can be effective only if they are enforced alongside energy transition policy. As long as the demand for hydrocarbons remains steady, then “gray areas” allowing countries to continue importing fuel from Russia will always be found. Ten years of sanctions against Russia for its aggression
- [About the new Russian missile attack on the Dnipro HPP in the morning of March 22, 2024.](https://uwecworkgroup.info/about-the-new-russian-missile-attack-on-the-dnipro-hpp-in-the-morning-of-march-22-2024/) - UWEC Work Group editorial team Large energy facilities of Ukraine (such as hydroelectric power plants and nuclear power plants) are again being attacked by the Russian Federation in order to sow panic. This, as we explained earlier, indicates the systemic risks associated with the creation and use of large, dangerous energy facilities, such as Zaporizhia
- [Moscow turns rocket sights on its own heritage](https://uwecworkgroup.info/moscow-turns-rocket-sights-on-its-own-heritage/) - by Eugene Simonov A year ago, when Russian tanks were heading for Kyiv, the international community voiced concern about many Ukrainian historic heritage sites and cultural relics threatened by the invasion. In March 2022, UNESCO adopted the Declaration on the protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine and started systemic support for preservation, damage assessment, and
- [Environmental fakes: How false environmental news is used in the information war](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-fakes-how-false-environmental-news-is-used-in-the-information-war/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Jennifer Castner More than a year has passed since the beginning of the Russian military’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We learn the majority of information about the war’s consequences by reading mass media and the internet, and it is not always possible to verify information independently. In this article, UWEC
- [Environmental consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Review. March 2024](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-russias-war-in-ukraine-review-march-2024/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info), or contacting us via social networks. CEOBS publishes preliminary environmental impact assessment
- [If not by sword then by plowshare: the ecological impacts of a war-induced food crisis](https://uwecworkgroup.info/if-not-by-sword-then-by-plowshare-the-ecological-impacts-of-a-war-induced-food-crisis/) - by Eugene Simonov While the world watches in horror as Russia’s war in Ukraine creates and exacerbates a food crisis, we also see how the threat of famine triggers decimation of natural ecosystems. Direct human consumption and agricultural production are two key factors driving declining biodiversity around the planet. How the Russian invasion creates a
- [How Ukraine can integrate environmental security into its national defense strategy](https://uwecworkgroup.info/how-ukraine-can-integrate-environmental-security-into-national-defense-strategy/) - How Ukraine can integrate environmental security into defense policy, monitoring, and international justice. Key steps explained.
- [Environmental security in the Middle East: lessons from Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-security-in-the-middle-east-lessons-from-israel-palestine-and-lebanon/) - How Middle East conflicts shape environmental security policy and what Ukraine can learn from Israel’s climate-defense model.
- [Environmental security in Ukraine: war, ecocide, and recovery](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-security-in-ukraine-war-ecocide-and-recovery/) - How war transformed environmental security in Ukraine: scale of damage, legal tools, and gaps in recovery. Read the concise analysis and next steps.
- [Odesa oil spill: delayed response, ecological damage and wildlife crisis](https://uwecworkgroup.info/odesa-oil-spill-delayed-response-ecological-damage-and-wildlife-crisis/) - A massive sunflower oil spill spread along the Odesa coast after a port strike. Learn how delayed response worsened ecological damage and wildlife losses.
- [UNESCO condemns construction of border fences](https://uwecworkgroup.info/unesco-condemns-construction-of-border-fences/) - Eugene Simonov Translated by Alastair Gill The author’s opinions and views do not necessarily reflect those of UWEC Work Group. The latest UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, held from September 10-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, condemned two anti-immigrant fences dividing natural ecosystems. One of these is a militarized barrier on the Poland-Belarus border. UWEC Work
- [Environmental Consequences of the War in Ukraine: June 2024 Review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-june-2024-review/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info), or contacting us via social networks. The main event in this past
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: February – March 2025 review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-february-march-2025-review/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info) or contacting us via social networks. New booklets reveal the environmental cost
- [How did Russia’s invasion of Ukraine change the electricity market in Europe?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/how-did-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-change-the-electricity-market-in-europe/) - by Hanna Valynets Translated by Nick Müller The war in Ukraine directly and indirectly affects the energy industry of other countries. For example, at the end of November 2022, after intensive bombardment, not only Ukraine but also neighboring Moldova lost electricity. Countries face much longer-term impacts across the global electricity market. There are two main
- [Protected areas and war: two years of humanitarian aid](https://uwecworkgroup.info/protected-areas-and-war-two-years-of-humanitarian-aid/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk Translated by Jennifer Castner Over the two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the work of many environmental institutions would have been impossible without volunteer and humanitarian assistance. In this article we will examine how the employees of strict nature reserves and national parks continue to protect Ukraine’s protected areas during the
- [Can the Iron Curtain Be Green? Europe’s nature is being divided by fences and fortifications](https://uwecworkgroup.info/can-the-iron-curtain-be-green-europes-nature-is-being-divided-by-fences-and-fortifications/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk and Vadim Kiriliuk This article discusses the current discourse on border barriers and related environmental issues. It explores the high-profile case of a wall built by Poland across a transboundary World Heritage property to control the inflow of migrants from Belarus. Given the accelerating development of a new Iron Curtain, active dialogue
- [Siberian coal through the lens of war](https://uwecworkgroup.info/siberian-coal-through-the-lens-of-war/) - by Anton Lementuev Translated by Nick Müller In 2022, the European Union’s fifth sanctions package banned the purchase of coal from Russia. Experts widely believed that the resulting logistical and financial difficulties facing Russian coal miners would seriously impact the industry. However, this did not happen, and protest activity in Russia’s main coal-mining region, Kuzbass
- [Beyond the fog of war: deaths of the silent](https://uwecworkgroup.info/beyond-the-fog-of-war-deaths-of-the-silent/) - Oleksii Marushchak Wars and military conflicts at all levels of intensity are unfortunately not listed as global threats to biodiversity. Undoubtedly the most awful of humanity’s inventions, war affects most of the components of biodiversity, be it localized damage or widespread catastrophic events wiping out small endemic populations and even entire species. In this article,
- [Ukraine’s UNESCO World Heritage sites at risk as war goes on](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraines-unesco-world-heritage-sites-at-risk-as-war-goes-on/) - Eugene Simonov New Delhi, India played host to the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on July 21–31, and our expert Eugene Simonov was there to report on proceedings for UWEC. In a sense, this year’s event dispelled rumors and fears that the World Heritage summit would become yet another victim of global
- [Russia selling off rare animals from Ukraine’s Askania-Nova nature reserve](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russia-selling-off-rare-animals-from-ukraines-askania-nova-nature-reserve/) - Olha Tkach A new investigation shows that Russian-installed authorities in southeastern Ukraine have been illegally removing animals from one of the country’s oldest and most important steppeland reserves, including rare species such as Chapman’s zebra. An investigation by a Ukrainian environmental media outlet has revealed that Russia is using Ukraine’s Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, Europe’s largest
- [Resistance is not useless: How Russian environmental activism persists in wartime](https://uwecworkgroup.info/resistance-is-not-useless-how-russian-environmental-activism-persists-in-wartime/) - A conversation with Vitaly Servetnik Interviewed by Alexei Ovchinnikov Translated by Jennifer Castner The war and the increasingly authoritarian regimes that preceded it have an understandably negative impact on many environmental groups and organizations. In Russia and Belarus, environmental activists are persecuted, and environmental organizations can no longer continue their work. UWEC Work Group has
- [Environmental and climate activism in the time of Invasion: Belarus](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-and-climate-activism-in-belarus-ukraine-and-georgia-during-the-full-scale-invasion-of-ukraine-part-one/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov This article begins a series discussing how the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has impacted environmental activism in Belarus, Georgia, and Ukraine and explores how activists can find ways for environmental organizations and initiatives to continue their work during these difficult times. Major political events reveal and highlight social processes that have actually been
- [“Under the guise of defending nature… they tried to influence government decision-making”](https://uwecworkgroup.info/under-the-guise-of-defending-nature-they-tried-to-influence-government-decision-making/) - by Eugene Simonov Translated by Jennifer Castner UWEC Work Group expert Eugene Simonov comments on the Russian government’s declaration that WWF Russia is a foreign agent. The Russian Federation Ministry of Justice conducts its very own “Fridays for the Future”. Almost every Friday after lunch, they announce new foreign agents. The timing is convenient; victims
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: September 2024 review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-september-2024-review/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info), or contacting us via social networks. CEOBS study on the impact of
- [Climate consequences of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine: Greenhouse gas emissions](https://uwecworkgroup.info/climate-consequences-of-the-full-scale-invasion-of-ukraine-greenhouse-gas-emissions/) - Fyodor Severyanin Translated by Jennifer Castner New data was presented on additional greenhouse gas emissions resulting from military activities in Ukraine at the UN COP28 climate conference that ended in mid-December in Dubai, UAE. Consequences of 18 months of war By December 2023, the United Nations reported that the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine had
- [Ukraine’s protected areas: defended or degraded?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraines-protected-areas-defended-or-degraded/) - Viktoria Hubareva Environmentalists argue that Ukraine is moving too slowly toward fulfilling the terms of its European Union Association Agreement, according to which the country must confer protections on 15% of its territory by 2030. Even in wartime, it is possible to begin to fulfill these obligations, a process that facilitates restoration of the nation’s
- [Russia prosecutes activist for citing IAEA report](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russia-prosecutes-activist-for-citing-iaea-report/) - By Aleksei Ovchinnikov Translated by Jennifer Castner Expert anti-nuclear Russian campaigner and public figure Andrey Ozharovsky was accused in August 2022 of discrediting Russia’s state atomic energy corporation, RosAtom. An administrative legal case is being filed against him. In the meantime, Ozharovsky has repeatedly made public statements and continues to serve as a regular expert
- [Has the war forced eagles to alter their migration routes in Ukraine?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/has-the-war-forced-eagles-to-alter-their-migration-routes-in-ukraine/) - Viktoria Hubareva, Stanislav Viter It is not only military activity that is affecting bird numbers in Ukraine – other factors are also at play. What needs to be done to ensure that birds of prey still have a place to live in the country? A recent story in the Ukrainian media claims that the war
- [How has Russia’s climate policy changed since the beginning of the war against Ukraine?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/how-has-russias-climate-policy-changed-since-the-beginning-of-the-war-against-ukraine/) - By Vera Kuzmina Russia’s military invasion has environmental consequences not only for Ukraine, but also affects its own environmental and climate policies. Russia remains the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world following China, the United States, the European Union, and India. In their official statements Russian authorities continue to formally declare their
- [Biology in Bomb Shelters](https://uwecworkgroup.info/biology-in-bomb-shelters/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk Translation: Jennifer Castner A bomb struck the center of Kyiv on the morning of 10 October. For the first time the targets were not the Ukrainian capital’s infrastructure but rather its cultural heritage. Taras Shevchenko Park and the City Gardens park located on the sloping bank of the Dnipro River were attacked.
- [War and Rivers: a conversation with Eugene Simonov](https://uwecworkgroup.info/war-and-rivers-a-conversation-with-eugene-simonov/) - Interviewed with Eugene Simonov by Alexei Ovchinnikov Translated by Jennifer Castner We continue our analysis of the influence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on ecosystems. In this article, we discuss the ways that military hostilities have affected transboundary and those most "fluid" objects – rivers. Against the backdrop of climate change’s catastrophic consequences, rivers are
- [Black Sea heals its wounds: 4 months after the Kakhovka catastrophe](https://uwecworkgroup.info/black-sea-heals-its-wounds-4-months-after-the-kakhovka-catastrophe/) - Viktoria Hubareva Translated by Jennifer Castner Research by Ukrainian scientists into the impact of the Kakhovka hydropower plant dam’s destruction on life in the Black Sea reveals unexpected results. On 6 June 2022, Russian occupation forces launched a terrorist attack, blowing up the Kakhovka hydropower plant’s dam. Almost 140 km2 of land was flooded with
- [Interview with  Olena Kravchenko of the NGO “Environment-People-Law”](https://uwecworkgroup.info/interview-with-olena-kravchenko-of-the-ngo-environment-people-law/) - “We must apply a ‘gold standard’ to evidence gathering for the numerous environmental crimes perpetrated by the Russian invasion.” UWEC’s Aleksei Ovchinnikov recently interviewed Olena Kravchenko, executive director and board member of the Ukrainian NGO Environment-People-Law (EPL), also editor-in-chief of the magazine EPL. International charitable organization Environment-People-Law has existed since 1994. Since then, EPL has
- [<strong>The year of Ukraine’s full-scale invasion</strong>](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-year-of-ukraines-full-scale-invasion/) - by UWEC Work Group Translated by Jennifer Castner Today marks one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Throughout this time, our working group has been analyzing both the direct and indirect environmental impacts of the war on the environment, on conservation practices, and on environmental activism. To observe this date, we share personal
- [LNG dependency poses a risk to Europe's climate ambitions](https://uwecworkgroup.info/lng-dependency-poses-a-risk-to-europes-climate-ambitions/) - Martin Vrba, Marta Abbá The end of Russian gas imports to Europe in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and their replacement with LNG was supposed to be a temporary emergency measure. However, the pace of LNG infrastructure development in Europe suggests that it will not be able to easily phase out fossil gas
- [Wetland reclamation in Ukraine: how drained swamps weakened natural defense](https://uwecworkgroup.info/wetland-reclamation-in-ukraine-how-drained-swamps-weakened-natural-defense/) - Decades of wetland drainage in Ukraine weakened natural defenses. Discover how Polissia wetlands slowed tanks and why swamp restoration matters.
- [How food became a weapon in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/how-food-became-a-weapon-in-ukraine/) - Russia’s war weaponizes food, destroying crops, soil, and Ukraine’s economy. Learn how agriculture and ecosystems are impacted and restoration strategies.
- [IUCN Congress 2025: Ukraine blocks Russia’s political lobby](https://uwecworkgroup.info/iucn-congress-2025-ukraine-blocks-russias-political-lobby/) - Ukraine stops Russia’s attempt to politicize the IUCN Congress, protecting global biodiversity efforts. Learn how Ukraine influenced the 2025 event.
- [IUCN Congress 2025: Ukrainian leadership and global recognition](https://uwecworkgroup.info/iucn-congress-2025-ukrainian-leadership-and-global-recognition/) - Discover how Ukraine shaped outcomes at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. Leadership, awards, and impact explained.
- [IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025: Ukraine shapes global conservation dialogue](https://uwecworkgroup.info/iucn-world-conservation-congress-2025-ukraine-shapes-global-conservation-dialogue/) - How Ukraine influenced conservation policy at IUCN Congress 2025. Dialogue, conflict, and practical outcomes explained. Read more on UWEC Work Group website
- [Toxic ruined cities in Ukraine: asbestos, mines, and chemical legacies](https://uwecworkgroup.info/toxic-ruined-cities-in-ukraine-asbestos-mines-and-chemical-legacies/) - Asbestos, flooded coal mines, and ruined chemical industries are turning ruined cities into toxic zones. Environmentalists explain the scale of the risk.
- [How warfare destroys Ukraine’s farmland and wildlife](https://uwecworkgroup.info/how-warfare-destroys-ukraines-farmland-and-wildlife/) - War explosions, toxic substances, and heavy metals pollute soils and threaten wildlife. Environmentalists are analyzing the impact on agriculture and nature.
- [US exit from climate institutions amid record global warming](https://uwecworkgroup.info/us-exit-from-climate-institutions-amid-record-global-warming/) - As 2024 became the hottest year on record, the US withdrew from major climate institutions. Experts warn of destabilizing global environmental governance.
- [Occupied agricultural lands and biodiversity at risk in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/occupied-agricultural-lands-and-biodiversity-at-risk-in-ukraine/) - Richest biodiversity zones and major farmland areas in Ukraine are under occupation and heavily mined, with impacts expected to last for decades.
- [Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s oil terminals trigger large-scale vegetable oil spills](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russias-strikes-on-ukraines-oil-terminals-trigger-large-scale-vegetable-oil-spills/) - Russian attacks on Ukraine’s oil terminals triggered massive sunflower oil spills into rivers and estuaries. Learn about the environmental risks and impacts
- [Fiber-optic drones in Ukraine: military advantage and emerging environmental risks](https://uwecworkgroup.info/fiber-optic-drones-in-ukraine-military-advantage-and-emerging-environmental-risks/) - Explore how fiber-optic drones work in Ukraine’s war and why their environmental impact remains an emerging concern.
- [Vegetable oil spills vs crude oil: environmental impact on marine and freshwater ecosystems](https://uwecworkgroup.info/vegetable-oil-spills-vs-crude-oil-environmental-impact-on-marine-and-freshwater-ecosystems/) - How vegetable oil spills affect marine ecosystems, oxygen levels, wildlife, and regulation compared to crude oil.
- [Fighting for life: How Russia’s war in Ukraine threatens to wipe out rare species](https://uwecworkgroup.info/fighting-for-life-how-russias-war-in-ukraine-threatens-to-wipe-out-rare-species/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk For the first time, the IUCN European Red List has officially recognized military action in Ukraine as an extinction risk factor. After three years of all-out war, UWEC asks: just how serious is the threat to Ukraine’s rare species, and to what extent are population losses being overplayed by the media? Since 2022,
- [Caution, mines! The future of mined landscapes](https://uwecworkgroup.info/caution-mines-the-future-of-mined-landscapes/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk UWEC Work Group previously examined the environmental impacts of minefields and munitions contamination for Ukraine. Military action spreads explosive objects over very large areas on land and at sea. The issue covers the entire temporarily-occupied zone, the line of combat, all formerly occupied territories, and the international border zone. According to various estimates,
- [COP 27: Russia dissatisfied by sanctions but refuses to admit why](https://uwecworkgroup.info/cop-27-russia-dissatisfied-by-sanctions-but-refuses-to-admit-why/) - by Ivan Mann Translated by Jennifer Castner At the United Nations Climate Change Conference 27 and without directly addressing the war in Ukraine, Russia called for developing international climate cooperation and avoiding technological and trade barriers during the transition to low-carbon production. Climate policy and Russia Russia has been a participant in climate negotiations since
- [Military combat impacts on ecosystem services in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/military-combat-impacts-on-ecosystem-services-in-ukraine/) - by Oleksiy Vasyliuk Translated by Nick Müller Military hostilities have a significant destructive effect on nature. They not only cause the death of living organisms, but also lead to the destruction of natural ecosystems. As a result, ecosystems lose their ability to support biological species, including humans. Loss of ecosystem services All our needs for
- [International reaction to the Kerch Strait oil spill](https://uwecworkgroup.info/international-reaction-to-the-kerch-strait-oil-spill/) - Oleh Lystopad and Eugene Simonov Although Ukraine has appealed to many international bodies to establish control over the cleanup of the catastrophic oil spill in the Kerch Strait, no significant assistance has been forthcoming. At the same time, the Russian side regularly receives international cleanup assistance. This article explores potential next steps available to Ukraine
- [Environmental consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine: January 2024 Review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-russias-war-in-ukraine-january-2024-digest/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Translated by Alastair Gill CEOBS and Zoi Environment Network release 7th study on environmental consequences of war in Ukraine The Conflict and Environment Observatory and Zoi Environment Network’s latest study is devoted to the invasion’s impact on ecosystems and biodiversity, with a particular focus on the consequences for conservation zones. In particular, the
- [Building back better? Fifty shades of green at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025](https://uwecworkgroup.info/building-back-better-fifty-shades-of-green-at-the-ukraine-recovery-conference-2025/) - Alexander Vorbrugg, Ievgeniia Kopytsia As Ukraine battles Russian aggression, the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2025 highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts in reconstruction, green transition, and EU integration. However, environmental concerns were largely sidelined in favor of economic and energy priorities, raising critical questions about Ukraine's green recovery and its balancing act between urgent reforms and
- [Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024: What were the key environmental takeaways?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraine-recovery-conference-2024-what-were-the-key-environmental-takeaways/) - Viktoria Hubareva Ukrainian experts who attended URC 2024 share their views on the protection of conservation areas, the integration of reforms, green recovery and energy sustainability. On June 11-12, European and world leaders, international organizations and representatives of civil society converged on Berlin for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, devoted to discussing solutions for Ukraine’s post-war
- [Blasting of Kakhovka Dam –  a  “green choice” test in Ukraine’s revival efforts](https://uwecworkgroup.info/blasting-of-kakhovka-dam-a-green-choice-test-in-ukraines-revival-efforts/) - Blasting of the Kakhovka Dam shocked the world as the extreme example of weaponization of civilian infrastructure, but it also raised questions about available paths for truly sustainable recovery after the war. This man-made disaster provides opportunities to rethink river management options in changing climate, as well as to pursue sustainable nature-based solutions and promote
- [Polar Bear vs. Military Monsters](https://uwecworkgroup.info/polar-bear-vs-military-monsters/) - By Eugene Simonov The World Heritage Convention has been experiencing multiple adverse impacts from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Russia was de-facto stripped of its presidency over the World Heritage Committee, when 46 UNESCO members threatened to boycott its 2022 session in Kazan, resulting in its cancellation. Given that war threatens the very values UNESCO
- [Satellite data aids the study of the war’s environmental and economic consequences for Ukraine’s agriculture sector](https://uwecworkgroup.info/satellite-data-aids-the-study-of-the-wars-environmental-and-economic-consequences-for-ukraines-agriculture-sector/) - Leonid Shumilo, Sofiya Drozd, Natalya Kussul In this article the authors examine how satellite data can be used to comprehensively assess the economic and environmental impacts of war, including documenting the extent of damage and changes in land use as well as identifying prospects for restoring agricultural land without harming the environment. Russia’s full-scale invasion
- [Beasts and Barriers: Obstacles along international borders and their impact on land-based vertebrates](https://uwecworkgroup.info/beasts-and-barriers-obstacles-along-international-borders-and-their-impact-on-land-based-vertebrates/) - by Vadim Kirilyuk Translated by Alastair Gill Within the next few years, 4,000 kilometers of impenetrable border barriers and defense fortifications will be built along European borders as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and tensions between the EU, Moscow, and Minsk. Many of these fortifications will threaten local populations of land-based vertebrates –
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: May – June 2025 review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-may-june-2025-review/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info) or contacting us via social networks. Fiber optic drones: a new source
- [The toxic legacy of the Kakhovka Reservoir](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-toxic-legacy-of-the-kakhovka-reservoir/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk The destruction of the dam at the Kakhovka hydropower plant on Ukraine’s Dnipro River in June 2023 caused not only a huge humanitarian crisis, but also an environmental catastrophe. Sediment samples collected from the former Kakhovka Reservoir show that over the decades, toxic deposits had accumulated on the bed of the reservoir as
- [Pollution of the Bug estuary following damage to Mykolaiv’s main wastewater treatment facility](https://uwecworkgroup.info/pollution-of-the-bug-estuary-following-damage-to-mykolaivs-main-wastewater-treatment-facility/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk (UNCG) and Eoghan Darbyshire (CEOBS) The war in Ukraine has seen attacks on or disruption to wastewater treatment infrastructure in Rubizhne, Chernihiv, Skadovsk, Sloviansk, Mariupol, Siverodonetsk, Lysychansk, Popasna, Mykolaiv, Vasylivka, and likely elsewhere. Eleven separate attacks on water facilities were reported on one day alone, April 19th. These included damage to, and/or
- [Environmental activism under attack: Persecution of the environmental movement in Russia](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-activism-under-attack-persecution-of-the-environmental-movement-in-russia/) - Fyodor Severyanin Translated by Jennifer Castner Last year, Russia declared “illegal” its largest international environmental organizations, groups that had worked in the country for over 30 years. Pressure continues unabated on remaining environmental activists, in part due to their anti-war views. Environmental activists and organizations advocating for nature conservation in Russia have become another target
- [Webinar #3](https://uwecworkgroup.info/webinar-3/) - The Ukraine War Consequences Work Group (UWEC Work Group), with the support of Reporters without Borders Sweden and Svea Green Foundation, conducted the third webinar in its series dedicated to the environmental and climate consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The topic of the third webinar was the environmental consequences of the destruction of the
- [Environmental lawlessness during wartime](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-lawlessness-during-wartime/) - By Eugene Simonov During periods of socio-economic crisis and war, governments and the largest business lobbies often seek to relax environmental requirements in order to reduce business costs. The belief that the surest way to overcome the crisis is to increase negative environmental consequences is a direct holdover of the extensive economic development that led humanity to our current ecological crisis at a planetary level. In addition to the looming
- [Fiber-optic web: How the use of drones on the frontlines impacts the environment](https://uwecworkgroup.info/fiber-optic-web-how-the-use-of-drones-on-the-frontlines-impacts-the-environment/) - Inha Pavlyi Relatively recently, a new technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) appeared on the frontlines in Russia’s war in Ukraine: fiber-optic linked guidance. When a drone is launched forward into the air a thin fiber-optic thread unspools behind it, settling onto the ground. As a result, enormous webs of these threads remain, covering trees
- [On the path to international recognition of ecocide](https://uwecworkgroup.info/on-the-path-to-international-recognition-of-ecocide/) - by Alexej Ovchinnikov Translated by Jennifer Castner Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has once again highlighted the fact that crimes against nature have no legal recognition at the international level. In response to environmental destruction stemming from military aggression, environmental NGOs are today intensifying their call for ecocide to fall within the International Criminal Court’s
- [Invaders from the steppes: Locusts and the war in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/invaders-from-the-steppes-locusts-and-the-war-in-ukraine/) - Stanislav Viter In recent weeks, a number of media reports have focused on a massive locust invasion in southern Ukraine. Some media outlets and officials have even referred to these locusts as “Egyptian”, complete with Old Testament analogies, while others claim the destruction of the Kakhovka Reservoir has played a role in the invasion. What
- [Prospect for renewable energy in wartime: How Ukraine plans to ensure energy independence using “green generation”](https://uwecworkgroup.info/prospect-for-renewable-energy-in-wartime-how-ukraine-plans-to-ensure-energy-independence-using-green-generation/) - Victoria Hubareva Russia’s war in Ukraine has destroyed US$16 billion of the country’s energy infrastructure. Restoring the country’s energy industry to its previous form is a longer, more difficult and more expensive prospect than building new generating capacities based on renewable energy. Energy sector losses since the start of the full-scale invasion and the government’s
- [Ecocide in Ukraine. The Environmental Cost of Russia's War. Book review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ecocide-in-ukraine-the-environmental-cost-of-russias-war-book-review/) - Alexander Vorbrugg Ecocide in Ukraine is an outstanding testimony to the environmental costs of Russia’s war, a moving tribute to humans, ecosystems, animals, and plants in Ukraine, and a thoughtful reflection on the various ways they and their inter-relationships are affected during the war. Tracing ecocide in the “most intimate and everyday realities”, Darya Tsymbalyuk
- [Environmental Consequences of the War in Ukraine: July 2024 Review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-july-2024-review/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can give by commenting on the website, emailing us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info), or contacting us via social networks. Mechanism to protect nature in wartime
- [Restoring Ukraine’s nature post-war: Hopes and risks](https://uwecworkgroup.info/restoring-ukraines-nature-post-war-hopes-and-risks/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk Translated by Alastair Gill The issue of restoring nature after the war is becoming increasingly relevant for Ukraine. On the one hand, it is important to understand the extent to which it is actually possible to restore the country’s damaged ecosystems. On the other hand, spontaneous restoration of vegetation is completely unpredictable and
- [Protected areas and border zones in Ukraine: How to harmonize them?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/protected-areas-and-border-zones-in-ukraine-how-to-harmonize-them/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Jennifer Castner On 21 September, Ukraine’s Supreme Council adopted Bill 7475 in its first reading. The bill is intended to strengthen protection of Ukraine’s state borders, but content-wise, it is primarily devoted to procedures for removing land from the Natural Reserve Fund (NRF). According to the bill, the border zone
- [More dredging, more freight: How the war in Ukraine threatens the Danube River Biosphere Reserve](https://uwecworkgroup.info/more-dredging-more-freight-how-the-war-in-ukraine-threatens-the-danube-river-biosphere-reserve/) - Viktoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill Since the latter half of 2023, the Danube Biosphere Reserve has been closed to tourist visitors and partially even to representatives of academic institutions. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced Kyiv to seek additional logistics solutions, reigniting a longstanding dispute between Ukraine and Romania over the deepening of
- [Mass dolphin mortality in the Black Sea: a military perspective](https://uwecworkgroup.info/mass-dolphin-mortality-in-the-black-sea-a-military-perspective/) - By Valeriia Kolodezhna and Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Jennifer Castner In recent weeks, UWEC experts have received repeated queries about the issue of mass dolphin mortality on the Black and Azov Seas. Readers wonder about a possible connection with the Black Sea Fleet and other units of the Russian armed forces. An August 2022 media
- [Sanctions against Russia: the Australian mining connection](https://uwecworkgroup.info/sanctions-against-russia-the-australian-mining-connection/) - Eugene Simonov The economic sanctions imposed against Russia for its war in Ukraine are likely to have broad consequences, including social and economic repercussions. Whether these sanctions have some kind of useful environmental “side-effect” depends not only upon their scale, but also on the detailed preparation of sanctions legislation and, most importantly, on the political
- [Distributed electricity generation in Ukraine: the risks and opportunities](https://uwecworkgroup.info/distributed-electricity-generation-in-ukraine-the-risks-and-opportunities/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk, Eugene Simonov The decentralization of Ukraine’s energy sector, which has gained new impetus in 2024 as a result of Russian missile attacks, is currently the subject of intense discussion – one which has an important environmental dimension. Using solar energy as an example, this article analyzes possible ways forward for the development of
- [Russia exits Ramsar Convention on Wetlands](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russia-exits-ramsar-convention-on-wetlands/) - Eugene Simonov, UWEC The Russian Parliament (State Duma) unanimously approved a law withdrawing from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The justification of the draft law submitted by the Government states "in the foreseeable future it is not possible to use the mechanisms of the Convention for the protection of Russian waterfowl, and Russia's participation in
- [Danger! Mines! The terrible environmental and human cost of Ukraine’s minefields](https://uwecworkgroup.info/danger-mines-the-terrible-environmental-and-human-cost-of-ukraines-minefields/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk Almost three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country on earth, with up to 26% of its territory thought to contain mines and unexploded ordnance. Much of Ukraine’s agricultural and conservation land is likely to be inaccessible for years to come, raising difficult questions about the future
- [Nine years after Crimea’s annexation: militarization’s environmental consequences](https://uwecworkgroup.info/nine-years-after-crimeas-annexation-militarizations-environmental-consequences/) - by Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Nick Müller & Jennifer Castner In 2014, Russia’s occupation and annexation of Crimea led to the peninsula’s militarization. Military drills, often more destructive to nature than direct hostilities, were held near or even within protected areas. At the same time, Crimea’s unique ecosystem is extremely important for biodiversity conservation both
- [Ukrainian environmentalists unite against reconstruction of Kakhovka dam](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukrainian-environmentalists-unite-against-reconstruction-of-kakhovka-dam/) - Viktoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill The Ukrainian government and Ukrhydroenergo are set on building a new hydropower plant on the site of the one blown up by Russian forces in June 2023. Meanwhile, environmentalists are speaking out against the construction project, which could cause serious harm to the surrounding area. Read on to find
- [Black legacy: How war is turning Ukraine’s coal mines into time bombs](https://uwecworkgroup.info/black-legacy-how-war-is-turning-ukraines-coal-mines-into-time-bombs/) - Inha Pavliy Translated by Alastair Gill One of Ukraine’s largest sectors—the coal industry—is currently in stagnation. Russian missile attacks on energy infrastructure, the occupation and flooding of coal mines in the east of the country are collectively depriving Ukraine of an energy resource—but could also lead to yet another environmental catastrophe. Inha Pavliy examines the
- [Future of munitions-damaged Ukrainian lands](https://uwecworkgroup.info/future-of-munitions-damaged-ukrainian-lands/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk and Valeriia Kolodezhna After World War I fighting ended a century ago, the government of France set aside 1,200 sq km of devastated but fertile land for wildlife restoration. The government of Ukraine should adopt this practice when it becomes possible after the war as well. Environmental conservation and safety principles in
- [20 plants that could disappear because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/20-plants-that-could-disappear-because-of-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk Biologists have compiled a list of 20 plant species at risk of extinction due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. All of these species are extremely rare and currently grow only in areas affected by the fighting. The extinction of rare species is not limited to Madagascar, Australia, or the islands of Indonesia.
- [<strong>Seals: Victims of war, greenhouse gasses, or asphyxiation caused by commercial fishing?</strong>](https://uwecworkgroup.info/seals-victims-of-war-greenhouse-gasses-or-asphyxiation-caused-by-commercial-fishing/) - By Eugene Simonov Translated by Jennifer Castner The population of the endangered (IUCN Red List) Caspian seal is declining precipitously. The mysterious November 2022 deaths of 2,500 seals has prompted many hypotheses, including those related to the war in Ukraine. Whatever the cause of the die-off, geopolitical tensions due to the war may decrease chances
- [Wartime challenges for Ukraine’s protected areas](https://uwecworkgroup.info/wartime-challenges-for-ukraines-protected-areas/) - Viktoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill Ukrainian journalists studying the impact of the war on the environment visited eight protected zones in Ukraine and have also spoken to staff from those that are currently under occupation. The consequences of the war are being felt both on the frontline and in occupation, as well as in
- [Fires in Askania-Nova: Consequences of military occupation of a reserve](https://uwecworkgroup.info/fires-in-askania-nova-consequences-of-military-occupation-of-a-reserve/) - by Victoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill In September 2023, fires raged across Askania-Nova, a unique biosphere reserve in the south of Ukraine. What is happening now in this Russian-occupied reserve? The Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve in the Kherson region has been under occupation since the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Founded by
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: May review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-may-review/) - Alexei Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info)б or contacting us via social networks. Ukraine’s green recovery: the discussion moves
- [The future of Ukraine’s abandoned agricultural land: rewilding or a return to farming?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-future-of-ukraines-abandoned-agricultural-land-rewilding-or-a-return-to-farming/) - Stanislav Viter Recent research by the International Center for Ukrainian Victory shows that around 19.3% of all arable land in Ukraine — about 5 million hectares — is currently unused due to military action, occupation, or landmines. What are the economic and environmental impacts of the reduction of agricultural activity for Ukraine’s ecosystems, and what
- [War-torn river basins?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/war-torn-river-basins/) - By Valeriia Kolodezhna and Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Jennifer Castner Ukraine has submitted 15 requests to exclude the Russian Federation from international environmental conventions. There is no consensus among experts in support of such initiatives, given that such exclusion poses tremendous risks for countries on either side of the Russia-Ukraine border. UWEC Work Group examines
- [Spontaneous recovery in wartime: How Ukraine can become a testing ground for unique environmental projects](https://uwecworkgroup.info/spontaneous-recovery-in-wartime-how-ukraine-can-become-a-testing-ground-for-unique-environmental-projects/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk, Viktoria Hubareva Most of Ukraine’s protected natural areas have been damaged by the war and have now been deprived of their environmental value, although nature is showing a striking ability to spontaneously recover in belligerent landscapes. So what is the potential for the preservation and recovery of ecosystems and biodiversity in these areas?
- [500 days of war: Experts discuss the war’s environmental impacts](https://uwecworkgroup.info/500-days-of-war-experts-discuss-the-wars-environmental-impacts/) - by Viktoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill Experts have been studying the direct and indirect environmental damage caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine since the very beginning. However, new aspects of the conflict’s disastrous influence on the environment continue to emerge. To mark World Environment Day on 5 June, experts from the UWEC Work Group
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: December 2024 – January 2025 review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-december-2024-january-2025-review/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info) or contacting us via social networks. Consequences of the oil spill in
- [Is it time to restore Velykyi Luh?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/is-it-time-to-restore-velykyi-luh/) - Ukraine Nature Conservation Group position Oleksiy Vasyliuk, Viktor Parkhomenko, Ivan Moysiyenko, Viktor Shapoval, Serhiy Panchenko, and Oleksandr Spriahailo all contributed to this article. First published by the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group’s website in Ukrainian on 14 August 2023. The authors recognize Dr. Eugene Simonov for his important advice. Alastair Gill and Jennifer Castner provided editing
- [One year after the terrorist attack at Kakhovka Hydropower Plant: 1B trees instead of desert and willow forests unique to the continent](https://uwecworkgroup.info/one-year-after-the-terrorist-attack-at-kakhovka-hydropower-plant-1b-trees-instead-of-desert-and-willow-forests-unique-to-the-continent/) - Viktoria Hubareva A year ago, the former Kakhovka Reservoir was predicted to become a lifeless desert, polluted with dangerous lakebed sediments. Instead, a unique willow-poplar forest grows there, the only such forest in all of Europe. If it can be preserved, it will bring good investments to Ukraine and have a positive climate impact. On
- [Invasive species threat resulting from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/invasive-species-threat-resulting-from-russias-full-scale-invasion-of-ukraine/) - by Nataliia Pashkevich, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher, Geobotany and Ecology Department, Botany Institute, National Academy of Sciences–Ukraine Translated by Jennifer Castner Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is dangerous not only for its obvious environmental consequences, but also for hidden ones as well. Specifically, the war is accompanied by invading alien species that enter the
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine. August-September 2025](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-august-september-2025/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on articles, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info) or contacting us via social networks. In this review, we will examine
- [Seeds of metal: How war is polluting Ukraine’s farmland and threatening food security](https://uwecworkgroup.info/seeds-of-metal-how-war-is-polluting-ukraines-farmland-and-threatening-food-security/) - Oksana Datsko One of the world’s biggest suppliers of grain and industrial crops, Ukraine’s agricultural economy has been badly hit by Russia’s war of aggression. Although the country’s agrarian sector is well developed, the ongoing invasion has brought food shortages, logistical difficulties and a change in climatic conditions. New research shows that in the northern
- [What does Russia’s war in Ukraine mean for global biodiversity conservation efforts?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/what-does-russias-war-in-ukraine-mean-for-global-biodiversity-conservation-efforts/) - Margaret D. Williams Note: First and foremost we recognize that Putin’s war is decimating Ukraine’s people, culture, and natural heritage. This article is not to place the Arctic region ahead of Ukraine in any manner. Rather, it is an additive piece of the picture needed to understand the ramifications of the destruction of relations between
- [Rebuilding the Kakhovka Dam is a mistake, but what should be done instead?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/rebuilding-the-kakhovka-dam-is-a-mistake-but-what-should-be-done-instead/) - by Viktoria Hubareva using UWEC Work Group research materials Translated by Alastair Gill and Jennifer Castner The Kakhovka hydropower station was built in Ukraine from 1952-56. Its reservoir was the largest of the six reservoirs in the Dnipro cascade, covering an area of 2,155 square kilometers – almost a third of the area covered by
- [After the deluge: Life on the banks of the Kakhovka Reservoir now the water is gone](https://uwecworkgroup.info/after-the-deluge-life-on-the-banks-of-the-kakhovka-reservoir-now-the-water-is-gone/) - Viktoria Hubareva On a visit to the eastern shore of the former Kakhovka Reservoir in Zaporizhzhia Region, UWEC staff writer Viktoria Hubareva found out how life has changed for local communities (hromady), who have been deprived of access to water for over a year now. A lack of drinking water, slow-burning peat fires and collapsing
- [<strong>Threats of Russian invasion for protected small mammals in Ukraine</strong>](https://uwecworkgroup.info/threats-of-russian-invasion-for-protected-small-mammals-in-ukraine/) - by Mikhail Rusin In this article, the zoologist Mikhail Rusin describes the war’s direct threats (combat, bombing, earthworks, uncontrolled fires, mining, etc.) to endangered small mammals and assesses how these threats influence their survival. The Russian war against Ukraine started in 2014 with Crimea’s annexation and support of separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, at
- [Reforestation in Ukraine: during and after wartime](https://uwecworkgroup.info/reforestation-in-ukraine-during-and-after-wartime/) - Stanislav Viter, Viktoria Hubareva The area of forest destroyed by fire resulting from combat activity in Ukraine is constantly increasing. In this article, we explore the future of Ukraine’s forests, the possibility of natural restoration processes, and the government's actions to restore these lost resources. Note: This piece uses forest destruction data provided by the
- [Should Ukraine continue building the Danube canal?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/should-ukraine-continue-building-the-danube-canal/) - By Valeria Kolodezhna Translated by Jennifer Castner In order to avoid a global food crisis, Ukraine is forced to seek new pathways to export grain. The Danube, one of Europe’s largest rivers, is becoming increasingly important in resolving this issue. Construction of a navigable canal began there in the early 2000, and now a second
- [Explosion of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant: What are the environmental consequences?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/explosion-of-the-kakhovka-hydropower-plant-what-are-the-environmental-consequences/) - by Victoria Hubareva Translated by Jennifer Castner Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) confirmed that at 02:50 am on 6 June Russia’s occupying forces detonated explosives at the dam containing Kakhovka Reservoir, one of the largest reservoirs not just in Ukraine, but also across Europe. Although immediate responsibility cannot be confirmed at present, experts are already comparing
- [War’s invisible consequences for Ukrainian forests](https://uwecworkgroup.info/wars-invisible-consequences-for-ukrainian-forests/) - By Yehor Hrynyk, Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group Translated by Alina Bykova During the war, many processes in Ukraine have remained invisible to the public. One of these areas is forest policy. Today, unsustainable forest management is taking place across the country. In general, the number of forests is decreasing, logging volumes are increasing, and the
- [<strong>Impact of Military Action on Ukraine’s Wild Nature</strong>](https://uwecworkgroup.info/impact-of-military-action-on-ukraines-wild-nature/) - By Kateryna Polyanska Translated by Jennifer Castner A thorough analysis of the impacts of the military invasion on Ukraine’s protected natural areas will only be possible after the war’s end and demining operations are complete. However, it is already possible to gather some information. In her report, Kateryna Polyanska wrote about the impacts that we
- [Impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov](https://uwecworkgroup.info/impact-of-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-on-the-black-and-azov-seas/) - by Sofia Sadogurska Translated by Alastair Gill Russia has been waging war on Ukraine for more than nine years, almost 18 months in the form of a full-scale invasion. The war is having a significant effect on the environment, and in particular on the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The blockading of ports and
- [Two years after the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant’s destruction: environmental consequences and the need for strategic decisions](https://uwecworkgroup.info/two-years-after-the-kakhovka-hydropower-plants-destruction-environmental-consequences-and-the-need-for-strategic-decisions/) - UWEC Work Group position: On June 6, 2023, Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka hydropower plant dam, and event that resulted in the complete destruction of its hydraulic structure and emptied the Kakhovka reservoir. The human-caused enormous flood moved over 14 km³ of water and is the largest environmental disaster in Europe since Chornobyl. Bottom
- [Military​​ oil spill: How the Kerch Strait tanker disaster is linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ oil exports](https://uwecworkgroup.info/military-oil-spill-how-the-kerch-strait-tanker-disaster-is-linked-to-russias-shadow-fleet-oil-exports/) - Eugene Simonov Pollution of marine waters and coastlines with oil and oil products is one of the most serious threats to Black Sea ecosystems, threats which have been significantly exacerbated by the war. On December 15, 2024, two Russian tankers broke in half during a storm in the Kerch Strait, spilling between 2,400 and 8,500
- [Emerald network in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/emerald-network-in-ukraine/) - By Valeriia Kolodezhna The Emerald Network is an apt name for a network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) in Europe. These areas were brought together and endowed with a single conservation status for the whole of Europe. In order to be granted this status, an area must provide an adequate level of protection
- [Unregulated coal mining destroys Donbas nature](https://uwecworkgroup.info/unregulated-coal-mining-destroys-donbas-nature/) - by Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Nick Müller and Jennifer Castner The occupation of eastern Ukraine by Russian troops in 2014 and subsequent fighting in 2014-2017 caused power outages and, as a result, flooded coal mine shafts that are concentrated in this region. This, in addition to ongoing unregulated and illegal coal-mining, poses a significant threat
- [After the deluge: One year on, can the ecosystems disrupted by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam recover?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/after-the-deluge-one-year-on-can-the-ecosystems-disrupted-by-the-destruction-of-the-kakhovka-dam-recover/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk and Eugene Simonov A year has passed since Russian troops sabotaged the Kakhovka hydropower dam, draining Kakhovka Reservoir and unleashing a catastrophic flood on the Lower Dnipro. Throughout this time UWEC experts have actively participated in discussions by scientists, environmental organizations, government agencies, and international partners about the future of the Lower Dnipro
- [Soil metamorphosis: Ukrainian study of war impacts on soils](https://uwecworkgroup.info/soil-metamorphosis-ukrainian-study-of-war-impacts-on-soils/) - by Valeria Kolodezhna Translated by Nick Müller & Jennifer Castner Contaminated Ukrainian soils are now estimated in millions of hectares. The figure is imprecise, and assessment of their condition is incomplete. However, today, even while the war is ongoing, crop production represents 30% of the country's GDP. Researchers are studying post-military action soil conditions in
- [War and the Sea: How hostilities threaten the coastal and marine ecosystems of the Black and Azov Seas](https://uwecworkgroup.info/war-and-the-sea-how-hostilities-threaten-the-coastal-and-marine-ecosystems-of-the-black-and-azov-seas/) - By Sofia Sadogurskaya, Expert, NGO Ecoaction Climate Program Active marine hostilities and Russian warships currently stationed in the northwestern region of the Black Sea not only block Ukraine's seaports, putting the world at risk of global famine, but also create man-made disasters that seriously affect the coastal and marine ecosystems of the Black and Azov
- [Plans to rebuild Ukraine shaped by solutions for Irpin](https://uwecworkgroup.info/plans-to-rebuild-ukraine-shaped-by-solutions-for-irpin/) - Compilation by Eugene Simonov and Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Jennifer Castner Ukraine's path to Europe will undergo a comprehensive program for the country’s “green” recovery. UWEC Work Group concluded earlier that the plan presented in Lugano contains only a few scattered environmental measures (and many anti-environmental initiatives). At the same time, the European Union is
- [Should the Oskil Reservoir<br>be rebuilt after the war?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/should-the-oskil-reservoir-be-rebuilt-after-the-war/) - By Valeriia Kolodezhna, Oleksii Vasyliuk, UNCG About authors: Oleksii Vasyliuk. Oleksii chairs the NGO Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and is a biologist. Valeriia Kolodezhna. Valeria is an expert in wetland biology at the NGO Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and a geographer. One of the biggest environmental changes caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war is the destruction
- [The thirsty peninsula: How much water will Crimea need in the future?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-thirsty-peninsula-how-much-water-will-crimea-need-in-the-future/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk, Eugene Simonov Russia’s occupation of Crimea has paradoxically served as the catalyst for a fascinating experiment in climate adaptation. Deprived of the water it traditionally received from the Dnipro River, the arid peninsula’s economy has been forced to make do with smaller local water sources. Despite the occupation and the corruption and mismanagement
- [Military fortifications in Ukraine - what comes next?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/military-fortifications-in-ukraine-what-comes-next/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk Translated by Jennifer Castner One of the most widespread consequences of military impacts on natural landscapes is the construction of fortifications. We have already written that the consequences of the construction of walls and fences along state borders (1, 2, 3) creates serious restrictions on the movement of land-based animals and results in
- [Flames of war: How Ukraine lost over 1,000 square kilometers of forest](https://uwecworkgroup.info/flames-of-war-how-ukraine-lost-over-1000-square-kilometers-of-forest/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk, Hrihory Kolomitsev and Viktor Parkhomenko Forest fires are one of the most tangible and long-lasting consequences of military action, both in nature conservation and economic terms. When the Russian army began using “scorched earth” tactics in 2022, the destruction of Ukraine's forests increased significantly. Examining the impacts of military action on the environment,
- [Hydroelectric dams as weapons: virtual and actual](https://uwecworkgroup.info/hydroelectric-dams-as-weapons-virtual-and-actual/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk and Eugene Simonov Translated by Jennifer Castner Dam-based hydropower plants (HPPs) present risks in both wartime and peacetime. Today, the main site of concern in Ukraine is the Dnipro hydropower cascade (whose reservoirs supply two-thirds of the country's population). A breach of just one of the cascade’s dams could provoke a humanitarian
- [Animal victims of war](https://uwecworkgroup.info/animal-victims-of-war/) - This article contains brief descriptions of animal cruelty Since the beginning of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, not only have people been victims of the war, but our smaller brothers – animals – have as well. They face incredible cruelty, hunger and thirst, explosive mines, and rocket attacks. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and
- [Askania Nova Biosphere Reserve captured by invaders](https://uwecworkgroup.info/askania-nova-biosphere-reserve-captured-by-invaders/) - by Oleksii Vasyliuk Translated by Nick Müller Falz-Fein Askania Nova Biosphere Reserve announced the establishment of de facto control over its administration by the occupying authorities. Simply put, the reserve’s administration has been captured by the invaders. Some readers may be surprised by this news, since the southern part of Kherson Oblast, where the reserve
- [Wetlands as natural defense: how the Irpin wetlands stopped Russian tanks](https://uwecworkgroup.info/wetlands-as-natural-defense-how-the-irpin-wetlands-stopped-russian-tanks/) - How Ukraine’s wetlands stopped Russian tanks and why Europe restores peatlands for defense. Discover the strategic value of swamps.
- [“Combat mosquitoes” in reverse: Russia creates cyber-pigeons and dreams of “reprogramming” Ukrainians](https://uwecworkgroup.info/combat-mosquitoes-in-reverse-russia-creates-cyber-pigeons-and-dreams-of-reprogramming-ukrainians/) - How Russian cyber-pigeon experiments expose real bio-drone ambitions. Read the investigation and its implications.
- [Nature’s tank traps: How wetlands form a natural shield against military aggression](https://uwecworkgroup.info/natures-tank-traps-how-wetlands-form-a-natural-shield-against-military-aggression/) - Oleh Listopad As Russia’s failed advance on Kyiv in 2022 showed, swamps can be a critical part of a country’s security infrastructure. But while EU and NATO countries are already integrating wetland restoration into their defense strategies, Ukraine still views swamps as a land reclamation resource rather than a biodiverse natural shield. On February 25,
- [Four years of full-scale war in Ukraine: the environmental perspective](https://uwecworkgroup.info/four-years-of-full-scale-war-in-ukraine-the-environmental-perspective/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has entered its fifth year—the war that began in 2014 has now continued for over ten years in one form or another. It is becoming clear that the environmental and climatic consequences are only expanding and taking on new forms. In Ukraine, people and nature alike are today
- [Russia's attacks on vegetable oil facilities open a new front in its war on Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russian-attacks-on-vegetable-oil-facilities-open-a-new-front-in-its-war-on-ukraine/) - Oleksii Vasyliuk, Eugene Simonov In December 2025, Russia once again began to attack sunflower oil storage facilities, with Odesa the prime target. Some of this oil has ended up leaking into coastal waters. What are the environmental consequences of vegetable oil spills and how do cleanup methods differ from those used for crude oil? On
- [Ukraine's ruined cities: rebuild or start from scratch?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraines-ruined-cities-rebuild-or-start-from-scratch/) - Should ruined cities be rebuilt in the same place or rebuilt elsewhere? Ecologists analyze the risks, safety, and possible scenarios. Read the analysis.
- [Ukraine at the IUCN-2025 Congress: war as a threat to biodiversity](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraine-at-the-iucn-2025-congress-war-as-a-threat-to-biodiversity/) - How Ukraine changed the IUCN-2025 agenda and achieved recognition of war as a threat to nature. Read the key outcomes of the Congress.
- [Environmental security: a key element of Ukraine’s national policy](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-security-a-key-element-of-ukraines-national-policy/) - Polina Tsybulska As war and climate change inflict damage on Ukraine’s environment, from polluting rivers and soils to destroying ecosystems, how could these threats be transformed into tools for resilience, diplomacy and recovery? And what could Ukraine learn from countries that have faced armed conflict, resource scarcity and extreme weather for decades? Imagine the clean
- [Environmental Consequences of the War in Ukraine—October-November 2025](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-october-november-2025/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on articles, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info) or contacting us via social networks. Russia continues to use repressive and
- [Ukraine scores decisive victory at World Conservation Congress](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ukraine-scores-decisive-victory-at-world-conservation-congress/) - Oleksii Vasyliuk, Viktoriya Hubareva In October 2025, as the full-scale war raged on, for the first time Ukraine joined the world’s most important nature conservation body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This year’s World Conservation Congress was a test of the global conservation community’s readiness to speak about the war in terms of
- [Nature through the lens: Three films about the environmental impacts of the war in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/nature-through-the-lens-three-films-about-the-environmental-impacts-of-the-war-in-ukraine/) - Inha Pavlyi Several films were released in October in Ukraine. They show how Russia’s full-scale invasion has affected the environment. The films “No Shade in the Forest” and “Animals in War” were screened at the Odesa International Film Festival at Oscar Cinema in Kyiv. A pre-premiere screening of the film “Natural Border” by Public Broadcasting
- [Ramsar wetlands under fire in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/ramsar-wetlands-under-fire-in-ukraine/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk and Eugene Simonov At COP15, the Ramsar Convention Secretariat presented an unprecedented report on the impact of Russian aggression on Ukrainian wetlands. This report was prepared following the adoption of a bold anti-war resolution by a previous COP in 2022. Most of Ukraine’s wetlands of international importance have been impacted, both directly and
- [Occupation disguised as conservation: Russia’s ‘new’ nature reserve in the Donbas](https://uwecworkgroup.info/occupation-disguised-as-conservation-russias-new-nature-reserve-in-the-donbas/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk Russia is now seeking to use Ukrainian nature reserves as a lever in a cynical new campaign aimed at establishing political legitimacy over the territories it occupies in eastern Ukraine. On July 1, 2025 the Russian government adopted Resolution No. 992, which declares the creation of a “new” reserve on Ukrainian territory, “Donetsk
- [Biosphere reserve burns at the start of the occupation administration’s work](https://uwecworkgroup.info/biosphere-reserve-burns-at-the-start-of-the-occupation-administrations-work/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk On July 5, 2025, a large-scale fire broke out in the steppes of the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve (BSBR). For the first time in the reserve’s three-year occupation, the Yagorlitsky Kut area of the reserve burned. It is the only part of the reserve on Ukraine’s mainland and had miraculously managed to avoid
- [Europe hastens its ‘energy divorce’ from Russia](https://uwecworkgroup.info/europe-hastens-its-energy-divorce-from-russia/) - Eugene Simonov Environmental organizations welcome the EU’s new roadmap for ending the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy but point to an absence of ambition when it comes to climate-related issues. Additionally, implementing the program will require great effort in an unpredictable and constantly changing geopolitical environment. In early May the European Commission announced its updated
- [Beyond scrutiny: How the war is hampering civil environmental monitoring in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/beyond-scrutiny-how-the-war-is-hampering-civil-environmental-monitoring-in-ukraine/) - Oleksiy Vasyliuk The environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine are typically discussed in the context of military action, explosions and mined areas. Yet there are just as many problems in the rear, well away from the frontlines. Large-scale extraction of natural resources, the destruction of forests, alterations to river courses and transfers of natural
- [What did the Ukrainian environmental sector lose after US aid was cut off?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/what-did-the-ukrainian-environmental-sector-lose-after-us-aid-was-cut-off/) - Viktoria Hubareva At first glance, it may seem that the United States has provided almost no support to Ukraine’s environmental sector. The consequences of Trump’s decision may, however, be delayed, given the colossal volumes of US aid to other international funds of which Ukraine is a member. What are the consequences of the 47th US
- [Military oil spill (2): Scale and consequences of the catastrophe for flora and fauna and the region’s ecosystems](https://uwecworkgroup.info/military-oil-spill-2-scale-and-consequences-of-the-catastrophe-for-flora-and-fauna-and-the-regions-ecosystems/) - Eugene Simonov Oil and its derivatives occur naturally in the sea, as do microorganisms that can absorb and process these substances. But human activity releases petroleum products into seawater in such quantities that nature cannot cope, and the pollution causes chronic suppression or catastrophic upheavals in local marine and coastal ecosystems. Oil spills are also
- [Rubryka launches Eco-Solutions Journalism School](https://uwecworkgroup.info/rubryka-launches-eco-solutions-journalism-school/) - Ecorubric is pleased to announce the start of recruitment for the Eco-Solutions Journalism training program (for Ukrainian speakers). During the course, Rubryka and Ecorubric experts will share their knowledge and experience in solutions journalism, and renowned environmentalists will discuss key environmental issues and their solutions. At the end of the program, participants will have the
- [Dead water from Russia: Fish and other life perish in the polluted waters of the Seim River](https://uwecworkgroup.info/dead-water-from-russia-fish-and-other-life-perish-in-the-polluted-waters-of-the-seim-river/) - Viktoria Hubareva Unprecedented pollution of a Ukrainian river caused colossal damage to its ecosystem. Read on to learn what can be expected in the future, how quickly the river can really recover, and what exactly caused the ecological disaster. The Seim River flows through Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions and from there through Ukraine’s Sumy
- [How restoration of Ukraine’s ecosystems is being discussed at European conferences](https://uwecworkgroup.info/how-restoration-of-ukraines-ecosystems-is-being-discussed-at-european-conferences/) - Eugene Simonov At the end of August, the fate of Kakhovka Reservoir was the subject of detailed consideration at two major international conferences that took place in Stockholm (Sweden) and Tartu (Estonia). Prior to that, although the fact of the dam’s destruction had, of course, long aroused international interest and sympathy, there had been no
- [Pollution from the bed of the Kakhovka Reservoir could affect water quality in local settlements](https://uwecworkgroup.info/pollution-from-the-bed-of-the-kakhovka-reservoir-could-affect-water-quality-in-local-settlements/) - Viktoria Hubareva Analysis of sediments on the bed of the former Kakhovka Reservoir carried out by the Czech NGO Arnika has revealed the presence of heavy metals. One of the most eye-catching and well-documented examples of the environmental damage caused by Russia in Ukraine was the destruction of the dam at Kakhovka Hydropower Plant in
- [Environmental news about the war in Ukraine – 30 May - 12 June](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-news-about-the-war-in-ukraine-30-may-12-june/) - A publication of the UWEC WG News from the front on the environmental consequences of military activity in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions At the end of May and early June, the most active combat took place in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, with particular intensity in Severodonetsk. The highest density of shelling occurred in
- [Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: April 2024 review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine-april-2024-review/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Each month, the UWEC editorial team shares highlights of recent media coverage and analysis of the Ukraine war’s environmental consequences with our readers. As always, we welcome reader feedback, which you can leave by commenting on texts, writing to us (editor@uwecworkgroup.info), or contacting us via social networks. Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine’s energy
- [Looking back on our 2023-2024 webinar series](https://uwecworkgroup.info/looking-back-on-our-2023-2024-webinar-series/) - Viktoria Hubareva In 2023 and 2024, UWEC Work Group, together with Reporters without Borders Sweden and the Svea Green Foundation, conducted seven webinars for journalists on the environmental and climate impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Our experts were also invited to speak at virtual meetings hosted by other institutions. In this overview, you will
- [Green Reconstruction of Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/green-reconstruction-of-ukraine/) - By Alexej Ovchinnikov A landmark event for Ukraine happened in June: the country was granted EU candidate status. Apart from the prospects of European integration, this also indicates a certain degree of responsibility, in particular, following the course of green reconstruction. This is a particularly pertinent issue for the country as it fights back against
- [Two years of the full-scale invasion. Reflections on environmental consequences](https://uwecworkgroup.info/two-years-of-the-full-scale-invasion-reflections-on-environmental-consequences/) - On the second anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we asked our editorial team members to comment on the war’s most important environmental consequences and the issues they believe merit our readers’ attention. The war in Ukraine has been going on for ten years, but the last two have been the most catastrophic
- [Webinar #4](https://uwecworkgroup.info/webinar-4/) - Together with Reporters without Borders–Sweden and Svea Green Foundation, UWEC Work Group hosted the fourth in a series of webinars on the environmental and climate consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The latest webinar in the series “Environmental Consequences of Russia’s Invasion in Ukraine” took place on 9 September. The purpose of the webinars is
- [UWEC Work Group webinar: How to write about the environmental consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/uwec-work-group-webinar-how-to-write-about-the-environmental-consequences-of-russias-war-in-ukraine/) - The final webinar in the series “Environmental Consequences of the Invasion of Ukraine” was held on February 1. This seven-part series of webinars was organized by the UWEC Work Group in collaboration with Reporters Without Borders and the Svea Green Foundation. The seventh webinar focused on the collection and verification of information about the environmental
- [UWEC Work Group webinar - Green recovery of Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/uwec-work-group-webinar-green-recovery-of-ukraine/) - The sixth webinar in our Environmental Consequences of the Ukraine War took place on 21 December. Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group organized it with support from Reporters without Borders Sweden and Svea Green Foundation. The topic was Ukraine’s green recovery. Oleksiy Vasyliuk, a UWEC Work Group expert and director of Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group,
- [Webinar 5: Gathering and analyzing data on the environmental consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/webinar-5-gathering-and-analyzing-data-on-the-environmental-consequences-of-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/) - Together with Reporters without Borders–Sweden and Svea Green Foundation, UWEC Work Group hosted the fifth in a series of webinars on the environmental and climate consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 25 October. Its theme was the collection and analysis of data on the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine. Presenting experts spoke
- [Webinar #2](https://uwecworkgroup.info/webinar-2/) - Consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Webinar 2 Summary On 30 May together with Reporters without Borders Sweden and Svea Green Foundation, UWEC Work Group conducted the second webinar in our series dedicated to the environmental and climate consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and UWEC Work Group expert Oleksii Vasyliuk
- [Webinar # 1](https://uwecworkgroup.info/seminar-1/) - UWEC Work Group together with Reporters without Borders Sweden and Svea Green Foundation held the first in a series of webinars about the environmental and climate impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.UWEC Work Group experts Oleksii Vasyliuk and Eugene Simonov told the webinar guests about direct and indirect environmental and climate consequences of the war
- [UWEC Work Group: The Year in Review](https://uwecworkgroup.info/uwec-work-group-the-year-in-review/) - Alexej Ovchinnikov Translated by Alastair Gill The past year has shown that fighting in Russia’s war in Ukraine is highly likely to continue for a long time yet. It was clear to UWEC Work Group experts even in the early phases of the full-scale invasion that studying the environmental impacts of the war would also
- [Prospects for green recovery and decarbonization in Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/prospects-for-green-recovery-and-decarbonization-in-ukraine/) - Fyodor Severyanin Translated by Jennifer Castner The topics of renewable energy, further decarbonization (even in wartime), and the “green” recovery of Ukraine were central themes for events in the Ukrainian pavilion at the UN COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai this month. Ukraine’s pavilion at COP28 At the 28th UN Climate Change conference (COP28) in Dubai
- [Gas intrigues: Pipelines, nature reserves, NGOs and the war](https://uwecworkgroup.info/gas-intrigues-pipelines-nature-preserves-ngos-and-the-war/) - by Eugene Simonov, Jennifer Castner Translated by Alastair Gill Over the last several decades, Russia has sought to expand its customer base for natural gas exports, efforts which necessitate the construction of pipelines from fossil fuel deposits in Russia’s north to Europe and China. At the same time, fossil fuel exports are a valuable tool
- [Greenpeace: Instead of an epilogue](https://uwecworkgroup.info/greenpeace-instead-of-an-epilogue/) - by Eugene Simonov The author’s opinions and views do not necessarily reflect those of UWEC Work Group. This text is a joint publication of UWEC Work Group and Kedr.media. What will the Russian environmental movement look like after Russia's largest environmental organization is banned? Two weeks ago Russian authorities declared Greenpeace an “undesirable organization”, putting
- [Environmental news about the war in Ukraine - 20 - 26 june](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmental-news-about-the-war-in-ukraine-20-26-june/) - A publication of the UWEC WG Europe prepares for a winter without Russian energy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warned that European Union countries may find themselves without natural gas or other Russian energy resources at the onset of the heating season this winter. In his opinion, blocking fuel deliveries to
- [Protecting the environment in times of war: An interview with environmentalist Yehor Hrynyk](https://uwecworkgroup.info/protecting-the-environment-in-times-of-war-an-interview-with-environmentalist-yehor-hrynyk/) - by Valeria Kolodezhna Translated by Alastair Gill UWEC Work Group member Valeria Kolodezhna sat down with Yehor Hrynyk, a biologist and specialist at Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, to talk about changes to conservation legislation in Ukraine, as well as environmental campaigns and activism in the country during wartime. Hrynyk’s work involves anything related to Ukraine’s
- [Russia opens a new front in its information war against Ukraine](https://uwecworkgroup.info/russia-opens-a-new-front-in-its-information-war-against-ukraine/) - Viktoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill The Russian Federation is beginning to shift responsibility for the environmental crimes it has committed on Ukrainian soil... to Ukraine itself. We examine the “logic” behind Russia’s accusations. How is this justified and how does it differ from the Ukrainian approach to environmental war crimes? On September 18, the
- [<strong>Defense ministry declares war on forests?</strong>](https://uwecworkgroup.info/министерство-обороны-объявляет-войн/) - By Eugene Simonov and translated by Jennifer Castner In addition to the direct negative impacts of the war on Ukraine’s natural environment, the “military operation” also has consequences for environmental protections in Russia. A new legal initiative could lead to unlimited logging in forests. The organization Moscow Region Ecological Defense has called upon citizens to
- [War-time gold rush](https://uwecworkgroup.info/war-time-gold-rush/) - By Eugene Simonov Do sanctions on Russian gold have conservation impacts? As Western countries impose ever more sanctions on Russia, questions about sanctions’ environmental consequences become more urgent. These consequences differ from sector to sector and are often far from obvious or clear cut. This article will attempt to understand how the sanctions affect gold
- ["Governments prioritize energy security over the clean energy transition"](https://uwecworkgroup.info/governments-prioritize-energy-security-over-the-clean-energy-transition/) - During June 2022 UN climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, UWEC co-editor Angelina Davydova, along with Boris Schneider from the Clean Energy Wire CLEW spoke to Bill Hare, founder and CEO of Climate Analytics and one of the leaders of the Climate Action Tracker, about the current state of UN climate change negotiations and the global
- [First wartime agreement in jeopardy?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/first-wartime-agreement-in-jeopardy/) - By Eugene Simonov Translated by Jennifer Castner The war has exacerbated the food crisis, in part because Ukrainian agricultural products cannot be sold on the world market. UWEC Work Group has been covering how a new round in the food crisis results in destruction of natural ecosystems. The first agreement that the conflicting parties managed
- [International law and exceptional circumstances](https://uwecworkgroup.info/international-law-and-exceptional-circumstances/) - By Dr. Dinara Ziganshina Translated by Jennifer Castner When the UWEC team set out to analyze the status of Ukraine's agreements with its neighbors as they relate to transboundary waters, we solicited the opinion of one of the most competent pan-European experts on international relations in the field of water resources - Dinara Ziganshina, Director
- [Nord Stream Gas Leaks: Experts Estimate Impact on Climate](https://uwecworkgroup.info/nord-stream-gas-leaks-experts-estimate-impact-on-climate/) - UWEC Expert Angelina Davydova and her two colleagues Natalie Sauer and Boris Schneider co-host The Eurasian Climate Brief podcast. In the latest episode they spoke with Sascha Müller-Kraenner, the CEO of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action Germany), a leading environmental, nature conservation, and consumer advocacy organization. In 2020, his NGO filed a lawsuit with Germany's Higher
- [Belarus eliminates independent environmental organizations and exits the Aarhus Convention: an interview with Ecodom’s Marina Dubina](https://uwecworkgroup.info/belarus-eliminates-independent-environmental-organizations-and-exits-the-aarhus-convention-an-interview-with-ecodoms-marina-dubina/) - Marina Dubina spoke with Aleksei Ovchinnikov Interview translated by Jennifer Castner Over the past two years, the Belarusian government has liquidated almost all active environmental organizations. Many environmental activists have been arrested and convicted of administrative violations or criminal activity. Many of them were forced to leave the country. These processes manifest the confrontation between
- [Saving scientific data during war: how is it possible and why it matters?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/saving-scientific-data-during-war-how-is-it-possible-and-why-it-matters/) - By Oleksii Marushchak Oleksii Marushchak is Chief Data Manager at Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG). UWEC Work Group invited him to describe data management and security in wartime conditions. UNCG is actively involved not only in scientific research of Ukrainian biodiversity, creating and supporting Nature Reserve Fund sites, and environmental education on different levels, but
- [Militarization of Crimea. An infographic](https://uwecworkgroup.info/militarization-of-crimea/) - By Valeria Kolodezhna For the last eight years, Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and its unique biological diversity have been under occupation. Over that time, its landscape has been actively used for military training. Since February 2022, it has served as a springboard for the military invasion. All of these factors have had a negative impact on
- [“Hamster principle” and COP 27. How has the war changed the climate agenda?](https://uwecworkgroup.info/hamster-principle-and-cop-27-how-has-the-war-changed-the-climate-agenda/) - Interview with Angelina Davydova by Hanna Valynets Translated by Jennifer Castner The war in Ukraine poses a number of climate-related questions, many of which countries cannot solve in the short-term. UWEC Work Group spoke with Angelina Davydova, environmental and climate expert, journalist, and co-editor of UWEC Work Group. We discussed current events on the global
- [What Ukraine took home from COP27. Results of the most significant climate event in the world](https://uwecworkgroup.info/what-ukraine-took-home-from-cop27-results-of-the-most-significant-climate-event-in-the-world/) - by Tetiana Zhavzharova Translated by Jennifer Castner Nations of the world planned to discuss loss and damage, while Ukraine sought to discuss the war’s consequences for the environment. Everyone was awaiting funding. Which of these hopes came true? We analyze important COP27 decisions for Ukraine. Expectations and reality COP's biggest achievement this year is the
- [The Eurasian Climate Brief Interview with Svitlana Romanko](https://uwecworkgroup.info/the-eurasian-climate-brief-interview-with-svitlana-romanko/) - UWEC Work Group Expert Angelina Davydova and her two colleagues Natalie Sauer and Boris Schneider co-host The Eurasian Climate Brief podcast. In their latest episode they spoke to Svitlana Romanko, an environmental lawyer and founder and director of the Ukrainian NGO Razom We Stand. Svitlana spoke about the protests and campaigns in recent months, from
- [Results of Davos: Arms and Climate](https://uwecworkgroup.info/results-of-davos-arms-and-climate/) - by Vera Kuzmina Translated by Nick Müller The issues of climate change and its impact on the socio-economic development of countries of the world were among the main issues at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland in January. The war in Ukraine was also discussed, including in terms of its impact on the
- [War at the Regional Sustainable Development Forum](https://uwecworkgroup.info/war-at-the-regional-sustainable-development-forum/) - by Nelya Rakhimova Translated by Jennifer Castner A regular meeting of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) took place 29-30 March. Attended by just over 1,000 people, this year the Forum focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7, 9, 11б and 17. Russia's invasion of
- [Bellona: Undesirable openness and the sanctions war](https://uwecworkgroup.info/bellona-undesirable-openness-and-the-sanctions-war/) - by Vera Kuzmina Translated by Nick Müller This April, the Prosecutor General's office recognized the Norwegian environmental organization Bellona as an “undesirable organization” in Russia. According to these officials, “the organization’s activity is aimed at undermining the Russian economy, discrediting the domestic and foreign policy pursued by government authorities, and destabilizing the socio-political situation”, all
- [URC23 Review: Ukraine offers investment opportunities](https://uwecworkgroup.info/urc23-review-ukraine-offers-investment-opportunities/) - by Victoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill We analyze the main outcomes and critique opportunities presented by Kyiv at the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, which appeared to have discarded the ambitious plans laid out at last year’s event in Lugano. Held in London on 21-22 June 2023, this year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC)
- [Civil society on the path to Ukraine’s green recovery](https://uwecworkgroup.info/civil-society-on-the-path-to-ukraines-green-recovery/) - An interview with Maria Dyachuk, specialist, Greening Industry program, Ecoaction Center for Environmental Initiatives. The good news is that, despite Russia's ongoing military invasion, Ukraine's recovery is already beginning to be talked about both nationally and internationally. On 4-5 July, the governments of Switzerland and Ukraine will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, Switzerland,
- [“Nature’s biggest challenges could begin after the war’s end”](https://uwecworkgroup.info/natures-biggest-challenges-could-begin-after-the-wars-end/) - An interview with Oleksii Vasyliuk, Director and Co-founder, Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group Oleksii Vasyliuk has been tracking the environmental impacts of the war in Ukraine since 2014. Over that period, he has co-authored several books dedicated to the negative impacts of the hostilities on the environment as well as violations of environmental policy and law
- [Environmentalists critique Ukraine’s reconstruction plan](https://uwecworkgroup.info/environmentalists-critique-ukraines-reconstruction-plan/) - BY UWEC Editorial Team On 4 July, the Ukrainian government presented its Plan for Ukraine’s Reconstruction During and After the War in Lugano, Switzerland at an international conference dedicated to that topic. Leading Ukrainian environmental organizations immediately pointed out the joy of such a large-scale “Green Recovery” was greatly overshadowed by the plan’s anti-environment slant.
- [Restoring nature on agricultural lands: a comparative analysis of legislative innovation in Ukraine and Russia](https://uwecworkgroup.info/restoring-nature-on-agricultural-lands-a-comparative-analysis-of-legislative-innovation-in-ukraine-and-russia/) - By Oleksii Vasyliuk and Eugene Simonov The issue of how to legally rewild lands that were previously only ineffectively cultivated is an urgent question in both Ukraine and Russia. The subject is also important from the perspective of protecting biological diversity and fighting climate change. Over the last two months, there have been two important
- [Influence of Russia’s military intrusion on the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone: Results of an independent investigation by Greenpeace International](https://uwecworkgroup.info/influence-of-russias-military-intrusion-on-the-chornobyl-exclusion-zone-results-of-an-independent-investigation-by-greenpeace-international/) - By GreenPortal Belarus Note from UWEC: In July 2022, representatives of Greenpeace Germany, together with Ukraine’s State Agency for the Management of the Exclusion Zone, carried out an investigation of the consequences of Russia’s military invasion of the Chornobyl zone. The results were presented in Kyiv at a joint press conference that took place on
- [Tracking impacts on nature while winning the war: an interview with Olha Boiko](https://uwecworkgroup.info/tracking-impacts-on-nature-while-winning-the-war-an-interview-with-olga-boiko/) - We continue our series interviewing the Ukrainian environmental activists, experts, and scientists dealing with the war’s environmental consequences. Our latest conversation is with Olha Boiko, coordinator of Climate Action Network Eastern Europe Caucasus Central Asia (CAN EECCA) and climate change campaigner at Ecoaction. We spoke about the biggest environmental challenges facing Ukraine today, how NGOs

## Pages

- [Issue #2](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-2/) - Dear Friends! I am pleased to share the second issue of the UWEC Work Group Journal, where we collect information about the impact of the war on the environment. In this issue we discuss not only the war’s negative consequences, but also the possibilities for constructive solutions: prospects for Ukraine’s «green recovery.» We will nevertheless begin with negative impacts, a topic that is especially important today.
- [Issue #12](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-12/) - Dear Friends!Of late, we have been hearing less and less about important happenings related to the war in Ukraine. Reports of mass shelling, fighting around nuclear power plants, destruction of forests, and water pollution caused by shelling of industrial centers have practically disappeared from mass media. Nevertheless, the war’s destructive “work” continues. We must remain
- [Issue #1](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-1/) - We are writing to share the very first issue of Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group (UWEC). This publication focuses on the environmental consequences of the war. We are a community of experts, environmentalists, journalists, and activists who have come together to share information about the environmental impacts of the war in Ukraine. We want
- [Issue #5](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-5/) - Dear Friends! In this issue, we draw your attention to the impact of the war on water – rivers, seas, lakes, small and large reservoirs and streams. Unlike soil, forest, or steppe, water knows no boundaries. It is always mobile, and therefore water pollution caused by the military invasion of Ukraine spreads throughout the region.
- [Issue #4](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-4/) - Dear Friends! Over six months have passed since the war caused by Russia’s invasion began in Ukraine. People and nature are suffering because of the hostilities, and the consequences affect not just the region but the entire world. Here at UWEC Work Group we continue to track and analyze the war’s negative impacts on the
- [Issue #3](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-3/) - Greetings, friends! At UWEC Work Group, we continue to analyze, track, and write about the environmental consequences of the war. For us, this work is doubly important because the events in Ukraine reflect a fundamental conflict that is destroying the human community and planet Earth. The war clearly illustrates how authoritarian regimes destroy lives, short-sighted
- [Issue #31](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-31/) - Dear Friends!On September 19, the European Union approved a new package of sanctions against Russia. In particular, this package envisages a complete ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas into the EU starting in January 2027 (previously, the ban was planned to be introduced the following year), as well as more severe sanctions against
- [Issue #32](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-32/) - 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
- [Issue #34](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-34/) - Dear Friends! Unfortunately, war is becoming commonplace in today’s world. Governments are increasingly investing in defense programs rather than in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Moreover, environmental issues are becoming part of the propaganda that governments use to advance their interests. In 2025 for example, Russia claimed that Ukraine was launching attacks on the captured
- [Issue #35](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-35/) - Dear Friends! In late June the Polish city of Gdańsk hosted the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026. How the country’s recovery will unfold depends on the strategic decisions being made at these meetings. Today, two main approaches are clear: the exploitative approach and the sustainable approach. The first proposes the active exploitation of the country’s
- [Issue #6](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-6/) - Dear Friends! Perhaps the most serious systemic environmental problem caused by the war is the disruption and weakening of international cooperation. In Russia, ideas about a “hostile” West are gaining strength, while in Ukraine there are calls for the exclusion of the aggressor country from all international initiatives. Since the invasion, almost all intergovernmental treaties
- [Issue #18](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-18/) - Dear friends! Russia’s war in Ukraine has now moved into a phase of positional warfare, in which holding back enemy offensives and building fortifications is becoming a central strategy. Few, however, are writing about the effect that trenches and dugouts have on the environment. Their construction requires the use of high-quality wood, and fortifications also
- [Issue #10](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-10/) - Dear Friends!Some of the environmental consequences of Russia's military intervention in Ukraine are talked about often and loudly. Others go unnoticed, but in the long run, those can be much more dangerous, for example, the introduction of invasive species in occupied territories. Taking advantage of ecosystems destroyed and disturbed by shelling and combat and with
- [Issue #22](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-22/) - Dear Friends! Sanctions are considered one effective mechanism for countering Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Environmental organizations around the world support a ban on Russia’s fossil fuel exports and also view it as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recently, Razom We Stand drafted an open manifesto calling for strengthened sanctions on fossil fuel exports
- [Jennifer Castner](https://uwecworkgroup.info/jennifer-castner/) - Jennifer Castner directs Eurasian Wildlife and Peoples, a non-profit organization that supports and partners with activists, researchers, and experts to protect natural landscapes and wildlife and support Indigenous peoples and traditional lifeways in and around Eurasia. An environmentalist, community ally, and coalition-builder, she has had close ties with the environmental justice and Indigenous rights movements
- [Alexej Ovchinnikov](https://uwecworkgroup.info/aleksei-ovchinnikov/) - Editor-in-chief of UWEC Work Group Alexej is a Belarusian environmental journalist and activist and a member of Green Network, a Belarusian environmental organization in exile. He has MAs in philosophy and sociology (urban studies) from European Humanities University, Vilnius, Lithuania. Alexei was an author and co-editor of Green Belarus Belarusian Independent Environmental Media and author
- [Issue #11](https://uwecworkgroup.info/випуск-№11/) - Dear Friends!A year has passed since we began living in the midst of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Over that time, our work group has published over 60 articles about the war’s environmental consequences. We have covered issues both indirectly and directly impacted by the invasion. Unfortunately, the war is not over; it continues, as
- [Issue #9](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-9/) - Dear Friends!In November, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP27, took place. This year it was overshadowed by Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. The sanctions that followed Russia’s invasion and the escalation of the most significant international confrontation since the Cold War have called the
- [Issue #8](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-8/) - Dear Friends! At this week’s G20 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskii set out his ten-point plan to end the war. In addition to the issues of nuclear, food, and energy security, he touched on the issues of ecocide and environmental protection. Finding solutions to all these challenges can facilitate an end to the war and while also
- [Issue #13](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-13/) - Dear Friends!It has already been a year since UWEC Work Group began analyzing the environmental consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During that time we have developed an important center of resources, websites, and organizations that collect data and perform analyses. Some of these share publicly available data in the context of the ongoing war.
- [Issue #7](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-7/) - Dear Friends! The war has myriad negative aspects that are not obvious at first glance. For example, when we discuss the invasion’s environmental consequences, few consider its impacts on Ukraine’s scientific community. The war has not only halted work on many biological and environmental initiatives. It is also threatening the data collected by researchers over
- [Issue #20](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-20/) - Dear Friends! Today, Russia has renewed its energy terrorism attacks in Ukraine. Increasingly, thermal power plants, hydroelectric power plants (HPPs), and other energy centers are under attack. These attacks are made with the intent to sow panic among Ukrainians and to bring about the collapse of the country’s energy supply system. A number of large
- [Issue #33](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-33/) - Dear Friends! Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been going on for four years. It began on February 24, 2022, and continues to this day. The war in Ukraine has been going on even longer, and its starting point can be traced back to the events on Kyiv’s Maidan Square in 2013-2014, when Ukrainians stood
- [2023 Journalism Webinar Series](https://uwecworkgroup.info/2592-2/) - Environmental Consequences of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine With support from RSF Sweden and Svea Green Foundation, the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group (UWEC) is launching a webinar series for Russian-speaking journalists about the environmental and climate impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. UWEC Work Group members and invited experts will speak about the impacts
- [Angelina Davydova](https://uwecworkgroup.info/angelina-davydova/) - Angelina Davydova is an environmental and climate journalist, writing for international media, NGOs and think-tanks. She is also a co-host of the English-language podcast The Eurasian Climate Brief. Angelina is currently a fellow of the journalistic program Media in Cooperation and Transition (MICT) in Berlin. She is also a climate journalism coordinator with n-ost, a
- [Eugene Simonov DoC (Евгений Симонов, д.о.п.\ 西蒙博士)](https://uwecworkgroup.info/eugene-simonov/) - Eugene is an environmental activist, journalist and researcher, focusing on freshwater ecosystem conservation, impacts of globalization on environment and empowering civil society to protect nature across borders. For 35 years he has participated in global environmental movement, while living in Russia, USA, China, Mongolia, Israel and now resides in Australia, pursuing PhD research at University
- [Oleksii Vasyliuk](https://uwecworkgroup.info/oleksiy-vasyliuk/) - Oleksii Vasyliuk is a Ukrainian environmentalist specializing in protected areas and biodiversity conservation. He graduated from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv with a zoology degree. Since 2004, Oleksii has served in the Animal Monitoring and Conservation program at the Institute of Zoology (Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences). He participates actively in the work of several
- [Issue #30](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-30/) - Dear friends!Russia’s invasion has already threatened several animal species in Ukraine with extinction. Up to 70% of the global population of Normann’s mouse has potentially been killed. After the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam’s destruction, there was much talk about the disappearance of the sea zander, and the dolphin population in the Black Sea has been significantly
- [Issue #29](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-29/) - Dear friends! Excluding combat, military operations around the world today account for 5.5% of global emissions. As Nina Lakhani wrote in an article published in the Guardian, if the world’s militaries were a separate country, their total carbon footprint would exceed Russia’s total emissions. Calculating the total emissions caused by wars and armed conflicts is currently impossible.
- [About UWEC: Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group](https://uwecworkgroup.info/about/) - Seeking solutions through information sharing about the environmental impacts of the war. Working group and media Today, the repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are beginning to be felt around the world. Global challenges include an energy crisis exacerbated by many nations’ rejection of Russian fossil fuel deliveries, the prospect of famine that will primarily
- [Issue #28](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-28/) - Dear friends! The war in Ukraine continues and is far from over. Despite its stated position of readiness for “peace talks,” Russia recently launched one of the most powerful strikes on Ukrainian cities in the entire full-scale invasion. Civilians have been killed. Offensive operations to create a “buffer zone” continue, in reality meaning the occupation
- [Issue #27](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-27/) - Dear friends! We live in a difficult time, a time when it seems as if governments have lost their minds and refuse to see our changing climate. There is probably not a single country that is not rolling back some of its environmental and nature conservation policies. It is thus all the more critical to
- [Yuliia Spinova](https://uwecworkgroup.info/yuliia-spinova/) - Ukrainian language editor for UWEC Work Group. She is conservation ecologist, co-founder of NGO Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG), and has a PhD in ecology. She graduated from Donetsk National Technical University majoring in ecology and environmental protection. At the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2014, she was forced to leave Donetsk and become
- [Viktoriya Hubareva](https://uwecworkgroup.info/viktoriya-hubareva/) - Ukrainian environmental journalist writing for Rubrika Online Media for Solutions. She is also a leading journalist at EcoRubric, where she authored the "Biosphere Reserves of Ukraine: War Stories" and "The Courage of Environmentalists" projects, and other projects designed to draw attention to the topic of environmental protection of Ukraine during the war. Victoria is an
- [Donate](https://uwecworkgroup.info/donate/) - Monthly contribution One-time contribution 10 Euro 25 Euro 50 Euro 75 Euro 100 Euro Other amount 10 Euro 25 Euro 50 Euro 75 Euro 100 Euro Other amount Continue Donate with PayPal Dear friends! Today we are asking for your support. Born out of the start of Russia’s full scale invasion in 2022, UWEC Work
- [Issue #26](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-26/) - Dear friends!We send you our warmest wishes for the New Year. We hope that in 2025 you will be surrounded by the support of friends, family and community, and that your ideas will develop and come to fruition. May you be accompanied by inspiration, success and joy!We naturally hope that this year Russia’s war in
- [Issue #24](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-24/) - Dear friends! We are continuing our work on analyzing the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine. Apart from working on articles, we also take active part in conferences, work groups, and webinars devoted to this topic. In late August, our experts Eugene Simonov and Oleksiy Vasyliuk gave a presentation at the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration in Tartu, Estonia. Meanwhile, UWEC
- [Issue #25](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-25/) - Dear friends! The mission of our work group is to report on the environmental consequences of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine. Together with experts from all over the world, we not only analyze the consequences, but seek solutions that will ensure nature protection when conflict activities end. With this aim, UWEC team members attend conferences,
- [Valeria Kolodezhna](https://uwecworkgroup.info/valeria-kolodezhna/) - Ukrainian environmentalist who is passionate about design. She specializes in creating infographics to visually convey complicated data and facts for UWEC Work Group. She joined the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group at the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, where she works to this day. In addition to her work in nature conservation,
- [Resources](https://uwecworkgroup.info/resources/) - Environmental damage is incalculable, but still must be documented. We have compiled a publicly available metadatabase of environmental information sources for use in times of war. The “List of Information Centers and Monitoring Tools” includes links to monitoring tools, databases, and knowledge bases accumulating information directly relevant to the war’s environmental consequences. The list includes
- [Issue #23](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-23/) - Dear Friends! The main events in June this year were conferences and presentations of research on the environmental consequences of the Kakhovka hydropower plant dam’s sabotage in 2023. The good news is that the short-term consequences were not as catastrophic as experts had feared. No dust storms developed, desalination and blooming persisted for just a
- [Issue #21](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-21/) - Dear Friends! Today, fires caused by military operations are one of the main drivers of ecosystem destruction and biodiversity losses in Ukraine. Moreover, comprehensive impact monitoring is impossible in wartime, and there is no quantitative data regarding the burning of forests and steppes since the full-scale invasion began over two years ago. Damage resulting from
- [Webinars](https://uwecworkgroup.info/webinars/) - Welcome on page of our webinars!
- [Issue #19](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-19/) - Dear Friends!Two years have passed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war and occupation of Donbas and Crimea, however, began a decade earlier. Naturally, such a protracted conflict negatively affects not only ecosystem protections, but also the development of civil society in the region. These last two years have been the
- [Issue #17](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-17/) - Dear Friends! In nature, dark days are followed by brighter days by design. Winter holidays and the new year fall at this time of transition from long nights to sunnier days – always a time to see hope for the future, hope for change, restoration, renewal. UWEC Work Group wishes you a Merry Christmas and
- [Issue #16](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-16/) - Dear Friends! Analysis of the environmental consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine facilitates understanding of military anthropogenic impacts on the environment and how (and whether) nature adapts in response. Some consequences, such as the desalination of the Black Sea as a result of the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, turned out to be less
- [URC23 Review: Ukraine offers investment opportunities](https://uwecworkgroup.info/urc23-review-ukraine-offers-investment-opportunities/) - by Victoria Hubareva Translated by Alastair Gill We analyze the main outcomes and critique opportunities presented by Kyiv at the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, which appeared to have discarded the ambitious plans laid out at last year’s event in Lugano. Held in London on 21-22 June 2023, this year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC)
- [Issue #15](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-15/) - Dear friends! “The war is slowing down… All processes are becoming more complicated and slower,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said. But this does not mean that the danger for people and nature has grown any less. In fact, the likelihood of a disaster is as high as ever, and has not receded since the destruction of the dam at
- [Issue #14](https://uwecworkgroup.info/issue-14/) - Dear Friends!Unfortunately, the ecocide in Ukraine is ongoing. In June, we experienced the latest example of how military actions can impact not only human lives, but also how they have extremely negative consequences for the natural environment. Specifically, the breaching of the dam at Kakhovka Hydropower Plant (HPP) this month. That tragedy is a vivid reminder of the need
- [Home](https://uwecworkgroup.info/home/)
- [Contacts](https://uwecworkgroup.info/contact/) - Questions? Want to get involved? Have ideas? Contact us editor@uwecworkgroup.info
- [Login Customizer](https://uwecworkgroup.info/login-customizer/) - This page is used for Login Customizer plugin. It will not be visible to your readers. Do not delete it.

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/uncategorized/)
- [Direct Impact](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/direct-impact/)
- [Climate Crisis](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/climate-crisis/)
- [Ecosystems](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/ecosystems/)
- [Civil society](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/civil-society/)
- [Sanctions](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/sanctions/)
- [Green Recovery](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/green-recovery/)
- [Crisis & Cooperation](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/crisis-cooperation/)
- [Environmental Policy](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/environmental-policy/)
- [Issues](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/issues/)
- [Webinars](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/webinars/)
- [Highlights](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/highlights/)
- [Opinion](https://uwecworkgroup.info/�tegory-slug%/opinion/)

## Tags

- [Eugene Simonov](https://uwecworkgroup.info/%post_tag-slug%/eugene-simonov/)