Over 2,500 cases of environmental damage due to hostilities recorded in Ukraine

Over the course of more than 500 days of prolonged hostilities in Ukraine, experts have identified about 2,500 cases of serious environmental damage caused by the war. The total amount of environmental damage is estimated at 52 billion euros.

This was reported on Facebook by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko.

Against the backdrop of Russian aggression, 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine's territory have been designated as potentially contaminated due to the presence of explosive objects.

Svyrydenko also said that the first meeting of the working group on the practical implementation of the principles of the Peace Formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already been held. This plan includes environmental safety. One of the key components is humanitarian demining of Ukrainian land.

"Important aspects of environmental safety under the Peace Formula include assessing the damage caused, bringing Russia to justice, and transitioning the Ukrainian economy to environmental friendliness," the minister emphasized.

The last serious consequence of Russian aggression for the environment was the undermining of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam by the occupiers. This tragedy caused significant destruction in the housing and utilities sector and the energy sector, as well as significant indirect damage to agriculture due to the loss of irrigation in the region.