The Environmental Consequences of the War against Ukraine. Preliminary Twelve-Month Assessment (February 2022 – February 2023). Summary and Recommendations

Russia’s war against Ukraine is having devastating humanitarian, social, economic and environmental consequences. This report contributes to response and recovery planning in Ukraine by providing a preliminary assessment of the environmental damage and risks caused between February 2022 and February 2023. The report covers the following thematic areas: the environmental context before February 2022; military conduct; the impacts of the war on industrial and energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and other radioactive sources, the built environment, the rural environment, freshwater resources and infrastructure, the coastal and marine environment, and on the global climate and Ukraine’s climate objectives; as well as the evolving legal and regulatory frameworks.

The consequences of environmental destruction and degradation can take months or years to materialize, risks often compound and escalate when multiple and interrelated incidents take place. Transboundary impacts extending beyond war-affected areas can also prove significant. The Kakhovka dam and reservoir break and other recent environmental incidents did not fall within the timeframe covered by the report. Capturing the full extent of the environmental consequences of the war will require continuous monitoring and regular reviews, also taking into account the specific impacts of the war on gender.