The scale of the crimes of the russian occupiers against the environment is shocking – ecologist

About the environment during the war. 

There has been a haze in the air in Kyiv recently. It turned out to be the result of ongoing fires.

Volodymyr Gandziura, PhD in biological sciences, an ecologist, and professor, spoke about the war and the damages to the environment.

Are the damages currently being inflicted on our environment by the Russian occupiers irreparable?

Volodymyr Gandziura: The losses are enormous. It is very difficult to evaluate them at this time. When we talk about environmental damage, we often talk about qualitative characteristics, not supported by quantitative estimates. Take February 26 for example, when there was a strike on the oil depot near Vasilkov. The losses estimated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine are estimated to be UAH 810 billion. This is just the minimum. If we talk about military facilities and military infrastructure, even the restoration of proving grounds during military drills, it is a huge amount. What can one say about the full-scale hostilities? The horror of the scale of crimes against the environment is astounding. One can only guess the scale.

The passage of equipment in the regions affected by the Chornobyl disaster leads to the fact that what was deposited and recorded in the soil rises into the air. Now the radiation level is growing significantly because of this. Arson in this area leads to the burning of peatlands, which are virtually impossible to extinguish. Exceeding the maximum of allowable levels by more than 10 times.

Even before the war, Kyiv was leading in being the most polluted city in the world. We also take first place in terms of cancer. Especially pediatric oncology. So what will happen after the war? Scary to imagine.

Another slow-acting nuclear bomb is the Kyiv Reservoir. God forbid the the dam will be damaged. And this threat is quite real. So many radioactive nuclides are buried there and they will last for hundreds of years. If it gets hit, it will be a disaster. This is another facility that needs to be prioritized and protected.

How can we mitigate the damages? 

Volodymyr Gandziura: Mitigation in the current conditions is unrealistic. Our services are doing everything they can. The main thing is to prevent. As they say, «we have what we have.» But it’s scary to think what can come next. 

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine has launched a platform where you can report any crimes against the environment. These are pollution of territories with oil products, radiation pollution, etc. Be aware. Help our environment.

Listen to the entire program in the audio file

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