Ukraine, Sweden, and UNDP continue joint efforts to assess environmental damage

The issues of documenting the environmental consequences of the war, assessing the damage caused, and developing approaches to environmental restoration were central to the meeting of the UNDP Project Council on Environmental Damage Assessment.

The event was attended by Ihor Zubovych, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine; Olena Kryvoruchkina, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management; representatives of the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine; international partners; and experts. The meeting took place at the Coordination Center for Environmental Damage Assessment—an institution established as part of the UNDP project with support from the Government of Sweden.

During the event, studies were presented on the identification of explosive substances in soil, water pollution and contamination of aquatic organisms resulting from hostilities, as well as a gender-based assessment of environmental damage. Special attention was given to the “Kam’yanska Sich” pilot case and approaches to assessing damage and restoring park areas affected by the war.

“To properly assess environmental damage and ensure subsequent compensation, it is critically important to consolidate the efforts of all government agencies and consolidate international support. Amid a full-scale war, the Ministry is systematically working to protect the environment, and the studies presented provide the necessary analytical basis for decision-making and improving public policy,” noted Ihor Zubovych.

The meeting participants confirmed their intention to continue cooperating to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to document and compensate for the environmental damage caused by russian aggression.

Background information

As part of the UNDP project on assessing environmental damage in Ukraine in 2025, in addition to analytical support and assistance in improving legislation, the State Environmental Inspection received 10 mini-mobile laboratories, 15 modern quadcopters, 12 laboratories were supplied with reagents and consumables, and approximately 600 inspectors were provided with the necessary equipment. Additionally, the project conducted training for inspectors to strengthen their capacity to identify and assess environmental damage.