The US Helsinki Commission held a briefing to highlight the scale of environmental destruction in Ukraine caused by Russia's aggression. Speakers Christina Hook (Kennesaw State University), Yevhen Z. Stakhiv (Johns Hopkins University) and Maryna Baidyuk (United Help Ukraine) assessed the impact of the war on people and nature.Kennesaw State University), Євген З. Стахів (Johns Hopkins Universityand Марина Байдюк (United Help Ukraine), оцінили вплив війни на людей і природу.
In ten years of war, Russia has caused some $60 billion in damage to Ukraine's natural and human environment, pushing the country towards environmental collapse. Large areas are contaminated with mines, pesticides and heavy metals. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in June 2023 led to the death or displacement of thousands of people, reduced access to water and increased the risk of a nuclear disaster at the ZNPP.
Participants stressed the importance of international support to address the environmental consequences of the war and bring those responsible to justice.
The General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine is currently investigating possible war crimes and deliberate acts of environmental destruction, classified as 'ecocide'.
The US Helsinki Commission monitors human rights and international cooperation in 57 countries.