The Hidden Cost of War: Environmental Damage During the Russia–Ukraine War
Copyright (c) 2025 Rozs Bálint
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The environmental impacts of armed conflicts are often underestimated, despite their long-term and severe effects on ecosystems and human health. During the Russia-Ukraine war, more than 25,000 km² of agricultural land became unusable due to explosive remnants and chemical contamination, endangering food security and water resources. Greenhouse gas emissions have reached 200 million tons, surpassing the annual emissions of several industrialized countries. The destruction of infrastructure and the depletion of natural resources pose a significant threat to Ukraine’s ecological balance and global climate protection goals. This conflict highlights the long-term, global environmental risks associated with modern warfare.
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