<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/24/ukraine-war-impact-on-environment-nature-photo-essay>
"Since 2022, the
Guardian photographer Alessio Mamo has been tracking the
impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Kremlin’s full-scale invasion, which
began three years ago on Monday, caused millions of Ukrainians to flee. Cities
have been flattened, villages occupied and lives destroyed. At least 46,000
Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and many more injured in Europe’s biggest
conflict since the second world war.
As well as intense human suffering, Russia’s attack has had a catastrophic
effect on the environment. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), more
than 3m hectares of forest have been affected, including 1m hectares in
protected areas. Russian troops have dug trenches, felled trees and planted
countless mines. Fires caused by shells have increased CO₂ emissions. Giant
clouds of smoke can be seen billowing next to a 600-mile-long frontline.
Some of this destruction is accidental. But there have also been extraordinary
acts of large-scale Russian sabotage. In June 2023 the Russian military blew up
the Kakhovka reservoir to thwart a Ukrainian counter-offensive. The explosion
released more than 14 cubic kilometres (14tn litres) of water, flooded dozens
of settlements downstream and killed at least 35 people. Ukraine’s president,
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said it was a “deliberate and calculated crime”.
The flood killed animals and swept away a fish farm that was trying to restore
endangered sturgeon to the Dnipro River. Unique species were lost. In August
2024 there was another ecological disaster when suspected Russian soldiers
dumped chemicals from the Russian border village of Tyotkino into the Seym
River. The pollution crossed the international border nearby and made its way
into Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region. The Seym’s ecosystem crashed."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
