The environmental toll of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has escalated significantly, with damages reported from March 13 to March 20 reaching approximately 1.46 billion hryvnias. This brings the total estimated environmental harm to over 6.4 trillion hryvnias since the onset of the conflict.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy and Agriculture, the State Environmental Inspection’s assessment indicates that the majority of this recent increase—around 1.07 billion hryvnias—stems from soil contamination and land pollution. Specifically, soil pollution accounts for 276.38 million hryvnias, while land pollution has risen to 797.14 million hryvnias.
Additionally, air pollution damages during the same period have surged by 389.86 million hryvnias. This includes costs related to the burning of oil, petroleum products, and gas, which alone contribute 382.78 million hryvnias. Other factors contributing to air pollution include forest fires and the ignition of various other materials, amounting to 5.55 million hryvnias and 1.54 million hryvnias, respectively.
As of March 20, 2026, the cumulative environmental damage caused by the ongoing war has reached alarming levels, highlighting the extensive impact on Ukraine’s ecological stability.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to a staggering increase in environmental damages, with recent assessments indicating a total exceeding 6.4 trillion hryvnias. This includes significant costs associated with soil and air pollution, underscoring the severe ecological consequences of the war.