On October 28, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis took part in a joint briefing of MFA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the impact of the war on the environment of Ukraine.

Yevhen Perebyinis emphasized that the war, in addition to numerous human losses and destruction, caused significant damage to the environment. Ukrainian experts have already recorded more than 5,800 cases of direct damage to the environment, which, according to preliminary estimates, has caused losses of about USD 60 billion.

As a result of the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP dam by russian troops in June 2023, a large-scale flooding of lands in about 80 settlements where more than 16,000 people lived had occurred. This terrorist act committed by the russian federation seriously affected the potential of the agricultural sector of the region, at least four national parks, a biosphere reserve and other territories were in the disaster zone.

russia’s criminal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, as well as its plans to target the energy infrastructure of other NPPs, endanger the environment not only in Ukraine, but also in the entire region. This cross-border impact leads to gross negative consequences for human health and well-being as well as causes the losses of economic potential of both Ukraine and neighboring states.

Yevhen Perebyinis emphasized that the unprecedented negative environmental consequences of the aggressive war of the russian federation against Ukraine are felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine. That is why the issue of environmental security is among the important priorities that the Ukrainian side is considering within the implementation of the Peace Formula plan of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian Side also welcomed UNEP’s active involvement and assistance in overcoming the damage caused to the environment of our country and emphasized that only joint efforts of the world community can eliminate the terrible toxic legacy of russian aggression.