Event: Consultation on environmental data needs for Ukraine’s sustainable recovery, 24/03/26
Online stakeholder event exploring Ukraine’s environmental data needs for sustainable recovery, exploring data gaps and opportunities.
Since 2014, conflict in Ukraine’s industrialised eastern Donbas region created a risk of environmental emergencies and will leave a lasting legacy of groundwater contamination from flooded coal mines. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, hundreds of environmentally sensitive sites have been caught up in the conflict, these include industrial and military facilities; nuclear, hydro and fossil fuel energy generating sites; water and sanitation infrastructure and ecologically sensitive natural areas. Read our dedicated joint briefings on nuclear sites, water, industry, fossil fuel facilities, the coastal and marine environment, the climate crisis and nature.
Explore examples of environmental harm in Ukraine
CEOBS has been tracking and assessing incidents in Ukraine since February 2022. This interactive map features 25 incidents from our database that help illustrate some of the types of environmental damage that have been caused or exacerbated by the conflict.
Publications
Evidencing a recovery plan for Black Sea dolphins and porpoises
There is significant concern over the impact that Russia’s war against Ukraine has had on Black Sea dolphin and porpoise populations. Regional experts have proposed a recovery plan but as Linas Svolkinas explains, effective mitigation efforts require that we first understand conflict-linked threats.
Ukraine Green Recovery Consultation
Are you a stakeholder working on Ukraine’s green recovery? If so we would welcome your views on a project that we are working on.
The ongoing environmental impact of the Kerch Strait oil spill
In December 2024 two Russian oil tankers spilled 4,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in the Kerch Strait, Crimea. Persistent and difficult to clean up, the oil threatens northern Black Sea ecosystems. Iryna Babanina examines how the situation is developing six months on and how the war influenced the disaster.
Wartime geomorphological damage and geodiversity loss in Ukraine
Huge swathes of Ukraine’s geological heritage have been affected by fighting or militarily occupied, in many places causing irreversible damage. CEOBS’ Rob Watson and Stella Shekhunova of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine examine the nature and extent of this loss of geodiversity.
Assessing pollution from explosive weapons in southern Ukraine
In a new report Norwegian People’s Aid and CEOBS highlight significant pollution, infrastructure damage, and threats to agriculture and ecosystems caused by the use of explosive weapons in Ukraine’s Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
Mapping the vulnerability of Ukraine’s groundwater
As part of the continual refinement of our remote assessment methodology for our Ukraine incident database, we often integrate new features and tools. Rob Watson and Jay Lindle introduce our latest project – a map of how vulnerable Ukraine’s groundwater is to pollution caused by the conflict.
Joint investigation into the attacks on Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, Ukraine
Part 1 of a joint open source investigation by the Ukrainian Archive and CEOBS into the recurring Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, which focuses on air pollution and examines the applicable legal framework.
The environmental risks from a critical minerals rush in Ukraine
Since February 2022, Ukraine has sought to attract international investment and political partnerships by licensing deposits of critical minerals. In this analysis, Iryna Babanina and Rob Watson examine how the demands of the conflict, economy and recovery are exacerbating the threats that their exploitation could pose for Ukraine’s environment.
The environmental consequences of the war against Ukraine: Preliminary 12-month assessment, summary and recommendations
Illustrated overview of the environmental damage caused by the war against Ukraine during its first 12 months, plus recommendations for how it should be addressed.
Paper: Assessing environmental damage in Ukraine
Papers prepared by CEOBS and Zoï Environment Network that were commissioned as a contribution to Ukraine’s High-Level Working Group on the Environmental Consequences of the War, they assess Ukraine’s environmental monitoring landscape, and priorities to restore its natural environment.
Екологічний брифінг щодо конфлікту в Україні: Природа
Наш сьомий випуск спільних брифінгів CEOBS та Zoï Environment Network щодо України досліджує вплив конфлікту на екосистеми та біорізноманіття України, а також важливість відновлення, дружнього до природи.
Ukraine conflict environmental briefing: Nature
Our seventh in a series of joint CEOBS-Zoï Environment Network briefings on Ukraine explores how the conflict is affecting Ukraine’s ecosystems and biodiversity, and the importance of ensuring a nature positive recovery.
Екологічний брифінг українського конфлікту: кліматична криза
Наш шостий випуск із серії екологічних брифінгів CEOBS та Zoï Environment Network про Україну досліджує те, як конфлікт впливає на глобальний клімат, і те, яких заходів вживає Україна для зменшення кількості викидів та адаптації до кліматичної кризи.
Ukraine conflict environmental briefing: the climate crisis
Our sixth in a series of joint CEOBS-Zoï Environment Network briefings on Ukraine explores how the conflict is affecting the global climate, and Ukraine’s efforts to mitigate its emissions and adapt to the climate crisis.
Mapping Ukraine’s ecologically important areas
War in Ukraine has made it vital that we understand where its ecologically important areas are. We’ve collaborated with the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and Zoï Environment Network to build the most comprehensive digital map available of its most important areas for nature.
Analysing the environmental consequences of the Kakhovka dam collapse
Following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, CEOBS was asked by UNEP to provide an initial assessment of the potential risks to the environment. Leon Moreland introduces the findings of our rapid analysis, situating them in the wider environmental context of the disaster.
Joint statement | Plan to address the environmental impact of war in Ukraine
Joint statement on the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine with recommendations for the international community aimed at mitigating harm, at preventing further environmental degradation, and at ensuring the future restoration of Ukraine’s environment.
Екологічний бюлетень щодо війни в Україні: прибережне та морське середовище
Наш п’ятий випуск серії бюлетенів Обсерваторії конфліктів та довкілля / Екологічної мережі «Зой» про Україну досліджує те, як військові дії впливають на прибережні та морські екосистеми, а також містить аналіз окремих інцидентів забруднення Бузького лиману, на півдні від Миколаєва.
Ukraine conflict environmental briefing: The coastal and marine environment
Our fifth in a series of joint CEOBS-Zoï Environment Network briefings on Ukraine explores how the conflict is affecting coastal and marine ecosystems, and analyses a series of pollution incidents in the Buh Estuary south of Mykolaiv.
Ukraine conflict environmental briefing: Fossil fuel infrastructure
Our fourth in a series of joint CEOBS-Zoï Environment Network briefings on Ukraine explores how the conflict has impacted fossil fuel infrastructure across the country, and features a deep dive into the immediate and reverberating environmental effects of a fuel depot attack.
Explosive weapons use and the environmental consequences: Mapping environmental incidents in Ukraine
Using the example of Ukraine, this paper explores how remote data collection and data from mine action operations can be used to better address the environmental consequences of the use of explosive weapons.
Ukraine conflict environmental briefing: Industry
Our third in a series of joint CEOBS-Zoï Environment Network briefings on Ukraine explores how the conflict has impacted industrial sites across the country, and features a remote assessment of the notorious Azovstal iron and steelworks in Mariupol.
Ukraine conflict environmental briefing: Water
This second in our series of joint CEOBS-Zoï Environment Network briefings on Ukraine explores how the conflict has impacted Ukraine’s water infrastructure and resources, harming people and ecosystems.
Ukraine conflict environmental briefing: Nuclear and radiation risks
This first in a series of joint CEOBS-Zoï Environment Network briefings on Ukraine explores how the conflict has impacted Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, threatening people and the environment.
Country brief: Ukraine
A brief introductory overview of the environmental dimensions of the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas region, with facts, figures and further reading.
Blogs
Plastic pollution from fibre optic drones may threaten wildlife for years
Russia’s war in Ukraine has encouraged a rapid increase in the deployment of drones that use fibre optic cables to protect them from being jammed or downed by electronic warfare: the drones trail kilometres of plastic cable across frontlines – what are the environmental risks of this tech?
Explore cases of environmental harm in Ukraine
CEOBS has been remotely tracking and assessing environmentally-relevant incidents in Ukraine since February 2022. We share our data with relevant stakeholders, it informs our research and advocacy activities, and it is our hope that the dataset will also contribute to Ukraine’s green recovery. We’ve now used it to create an interactive map.
Sustainable recovery? First sustain interest in Ukraine’s environment
An unprecedented volume of environmental data is being gathered on the invasion of Ukraine. Doug Weir explores what kind of data is being gathered, and by whom, as well as the environmental narratives that are developing and the implications of this level of documentation.
Legal accountability for environmental destruction in Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder of the human and environmental costs of armed conflict. In this post, Rachel Killean examines the legal avenues that could be open for Ukraine in seeking accountability and redress for environmental damage.
Environmental trends in the Ukraine conflict, 10 days in
This update provides an overview of some of the environmental trends caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It builds on our initial rapid assessment, which was published on Feb 25th.
Ukraine invasion: rapid overview of environmental issues
Rapid overview of emerging environmental issues and perspectives arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Exploring environmental governance in eastern Ukraine
How does environmental governance function in areas that are governed by non-state actors during conflicts? Olga Shashkina has explored this question in eastern Ukraine, where two new republics declared themselves when the Ukrainian government lost control of the region.
Are abandoned mines flooding in Ukraine’s Donbas region?
This blog investigates a potential case of mine water flooding in eastern Ukraine, at a coal mine close to the location of an experimental nuclear detonation in the 1970s. Many mines have been closed during the conflict and with water pumping stopped there are widespread risks from pollution, methane leaks and subsidence.
Stress-testing the ILC’s draft principles on environmental protection during occupation
Over the summer, the International Law Commission has strengthened its draft principles on environmental protection in situations of occupation. In this blog, CEOBS teams up with Al-Haq to review the revised principles against current cases of occupation to identify any further improvements that could be made.
Monitoring the monitors studying the Ukraine conflict’s environmental impact
Since 2015, a number of different actors have published data on the environmental impact of the conflict in Ukraine. Doug Weir and Nickolai Denisov take a look at the different methodologies that have been used to monitor environmental harm, their findings, and what the studies tell us about how monitoring could be improved.
New data on Ukraine conflict’s environmental risks supports calls for comprehensive assessment
With the Ukraine conflict’s environment risks again in the news, Zoï Environment Network has released new maps on the environmental consequences of the conflict. Both sides are increasingly conscious of the humanitarian and ecological impact of the war and plans to minimise risks and encourage sustainable reconstruction are being promoted. But without a comprehensive assessment of the damage, such proposals are of limited value.
Ukraine conflict – 24 months of urgent environmental recovery will cost $30m
The environmental costs of the ongoing Ukraine conflict are still to be fully quantified but an EU-UN-World Bank needs assessment has called for US$30m to fund urgent environmental recovery over the next two years. With UNEP still unable to assess or begin restoring the damage on the ground due to insecurity, this sum, which already far exceeds that for UXO management is only likely to grow.
External content
HLWG | An environmental compact for Ukraine
With 50 recommendations across three priority areas: monitoring, accountability and recovery, this compact by the High Level Working Group on the Environment Consequences of the War maps out environmental priorities for Ukraine.
UNEP | Rapid environmental assessment of Kakhovka Dam breach Ukraine, 2023
The assessment encompasses damage caused both upstream and downstream, including hydrological and geomorphic impacts, chemical contamination, waste, and ecological damage, including to protected areas.
OSCE | Donbas tailings storage facilities
939 millions tons of industrial waste are stored in tailings facilities in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, the conflict is increasing the risk of a serious environmental emergency through direct damage, and by mines and heavy fighting obstructing access for assessments and repairs.
OSCE | Five Years of Fighting in Eastern Ukraine: Infographics on Environmental Aspect
To mark five years of conflict the OSCE Project Coordinator for Ukraine has published a series of infographics detailing the environmental consequences of the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
UNICEF | Risk assessment of the Voda Donbasu water system
The challenges for the water system eastern Ukraine are significant and remain largely unchanged since they were first assessed by UNICEF in 2017.
OSCE | State of the Siverskyi Donets basin and related risks under military operations
A report assessing how the conflict in eastern Ukraine has impacted the quality of surface and groundwaters in the Siverskyi Donets basin, which is intersected by the Ukraine conflict’s frontline.
OSCE | SMM facilitation and monitoring of infrastructure repair in eastern Ukraine – Jan 17-Aug 18
This report provides an overview of OSCE SMM-facilitation and monitoring of infrastructure repair and maintenance in eastern Ukraine (January 2017 – August 2018).
New Security Beat | A Ukrainian Stand-Off: The Toxic Consequences of Armed Conflict in Donbass
Conflicts like the ones in the Ukraine, Iraq, and Syria show how wartime damage to the environment can have long-term consequences for countries as they seek to recover.
DFRLab | A Visit to Environmental Flash Points of the Donbas
A recurring theme in the conversations is that the problem with the environment was that once it would go wrong, it would go wrong in a very destructive way.
OSCE | Environmental Assessment and Recovery Priorities for Eastern Ukraine
The publication “Environmental Assessment and Recovery Priorities for Eastern Ukraine” incorporates existing information from various sources on impact and threats to the environment posed by a conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union | On the brink of survival: damage to the environment during armed conflict in east of Ukraine
The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine has not only led to heavy casualties, but also caused significant damage to ecosystems and natural resources as a result of the violation of international principles of and national law.
OHCHR | UN experts warn of chemical disaster and water safety risk as conflict escalates in East
UN experts on human rights and hazardous substances, and safe drinking water and sanitation, raise concerns over the potential risks from damage to water infrastructure in the Donbas region.
CHD | Ecological threats in Donbas, Ukraine
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s assessment has a particular focus on the threats posed by industrial facilities and coal mines in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
Politico | Preventing disaster in Donbas
The then Austrian Foreign Minister and Chair of the OSCE Sebastian Kurz on the environmental risks being created by the conflict in Ukraine.
Heinrich Böll Foundation | The Real Price of Coal in the Wartime Donbas: a Human Rights Perspective
The aim of the study was to create conditions for a wide public discussion about the actual economic, environmental and social consequences of coal mining in Donbas during the war
Bellingcat/PAX | Donbas: A Ticking Toxic Time Bomb
Large-scale heavy industry in the Donbas region adds to the risks posed to civilians through the risk of environmental pollution and related health issues. This article focuses on the often overlooked, or at minimum under-reported, risks of the impact of the conflict on the environment.
Washington Post | Shelling around Ukrainian industrial facilities may trigger serious environmental consequences, report says
A steady uptick in shelling along front lines in eastern Ukraine is threatening numerous industrial facilities that, if damaged, could trigger severe environmental and humanitarian consequences, according to a new report by an environmental nonprofit organization.
Bellingcat/PAX | Water Filtration Plants and Risks of a Chlorine Mass-Casualty Event in Donetsk
Water filtration plants in Ukraine have been repeatedly damaged by shelling. How big a risk does the chlorine gas stored at these sites present?
Vasyliuk et al | Steppe protected areas on the territory of Ukraine in the context of the armed conflict in the Donbas region and Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula
This article analyses the factors influencing the conservation status of protected areas in Ukraine caused by the unstable political situation in the country in the years 2014‐2016, including military action and occupation of the eastern part of Ukraine by Russian troops, and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and increasing military activity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
OSCE | Access to water in conflict‐affected areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions
This report examines how the right to an adequate standard of living has been affected by the conduct of hostilities, particularly access to sufficient, safe, acceptable and affordable water for personal and domestic use.
UN-EU-World Bank | Ukraine Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment
This study found that the conflict had exacerbated existing pollution in the Donbas region and caused further environmental damage and loss.
Environment, People, Law | Military conflict in eastern Ukraine – civilization challenges to humanity
Report by the Ukrainian NGO Environment People Law which was one of the first to raise the alarm about the environmental consequences of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.