On February 24th, 2022, Russia declared war on Ukraine after years of conflict and tensions over Ukraine and its growing relationship with Western European states. While without a doubt, the worst part of the war is the humanitarian crisis that has resulted, a less discussed consequence is the war’s disastrous environmental impact. As Ukraine is a heavily industrial country, its air quality and environmental issues were poor, even before the war. Now, with the Russian invasion diverting the attention of government officials, Ukraine’s solution to its current and future environmental problems has taken a backseat.

Currently, in Ukraine, explosions caused by missiles, shells, and tank rounds are throwing materials such as heavy metals, concrete, piping, and even carcinogenic asbestos into the air. The explosives themselves are full of harmful chemicals which release toxins such as mercury, the aforementioned asbestos, and lead into the atmosphere as well as into soil and waterways. To make matters grimmer, high winds can carry the particles from the explosions thousands of miles away, to other nations, which when inhaled by the inhabitants of those areas, may cause severe lung problems.

Another massive environmental concern is the fight around Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. One of the first Ukrainian areas Russian troops seized was the infamous Nuclear power plant in Chernobyl which exploded in 1986. The Russian occupation has stirred up radioactive dust and increased the amount of radiation in the area. Ukraine is home to four operating nuclear reactors. Reports have shown that the Russian forces have struck dangerously close to many of its nuclear waste facilities, resulting in radioactive contamination and subsequent health risks such as acute radiation syndrome, skin burns, cardiovascular issues, and even cancer to the neighbouring residents.

On the day Russia set in motion its invasion, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) tweeted for a ceasefire, “As hostilities intensify in Ukraine, @UNEP echoes the call of @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the safety of all people and the environment that sustains life on the planet.” Nevertheless, the war still rages on and we can only hope that the environmental damages it leaves behind can be remedied.

Works Cited

“Chernobyl Accident 1986.”, March, 2022,

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chern obyl-accident.aspx.

Kruzman, Diana. “The Environmental Costs of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.”, February 25, 2022,

https://grist.org/international/environmental-costs-of-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/. Simon, Matt, and Gregory Barber. “Ukraine is in an Environmental Crisis Too.”, March 3, 2022, https://www.wired.com/story/ukraine-is-in-an-environmental-crisis-too/.

Sweeney, Erica. “The Russian Invasion of Ukraine is Causing an Environmental Crisis, and Experts Say it could Take Years to Fully Realize the Impact.”, March 10, 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-invasion-ukraine-experts-say-cause-environ ment-crisis-2022-3.

US EPA, OAR. “Radiation Health Effects.”, -11-12T09:43:00-05:00, 2014, https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-health-effects.

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