Oleshky, Novokakhivska AH, 10 June 2023. Photo: AP Photo
Since the commencement of the full-scale invasion, Russian occupiers have inflicted a staggering UAH 2.2 trillion in damages to Ukraine’s environment, as revealed by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during the International Forum ‘United for Nature. Agenda for Ukraine.’
«According to the Ministry of Environment, almost 3,600 Russian crimes against the environment were documented throughout the full-scale invasion, resulting in losses equivalent to UAH 2.2 trillion», — stated the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Shmyhal further highlighted that hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land are now potentially contaminated with mines and shells.
Emphasizing the shared goal of Ukraine and its partners, Shmyhal asserted:
«The principle «Russia will pay» is of utmost importance to us. We anticipate effective decisions from the European Union, the United States, and other nations that will enable us to redirect Russian resources to aid Ukraine».
As of September 1, 2023, based on KSE estimates, the direct documented damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure has reached $151.2 billion, marking a $700 million increase from June.