Russia destroys over 60,000 hectares of Ukrainian forests worth almost US$360 million

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Russians have completely destroyed more than 60,000 hectares of forests worth at least 14 billion hryvnias (about US$359.2 million) in the territories they occupy.

Source: an investigation by NGL.media

Details: Using satellite imagery, NGL.media was able to establish that over the two years of the full-scale war, the Russians have completely destroyed more than 60,000 hectares of forests in the territories they occupy. 

"The minimum estimate states that the total value of the lost forest exceeds 14 billion hryvnias – this is only direct damage, i.e. the value of wood that could have been obtained from these more than 60,000 hectares. These losses do not take into account the environmental consequences, the elimination of which can be much more expensive," the investigation says. 

It is noted that among the natural areas that have suffered the most in Donetsk Oblast is the Holy Mountains National Nature Park, located in Kramatorsk and Bakhmut districts. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, combat actions have been conducted in this area, resulting in the destruction of 80% of the park.

In addition, the Russians are actively deforesting Luhansk Oblast, where only 11% of the territory was covered by forests before the full-scale war. In Luhansk Oblast, being predominantly a steppe region, forests have a very important function: they protect against sandstorms, retain moisture and stop soil erosion.

Also, about 40-45% of the forests in Kharkiv Oblast are currently mined or damaged by fires.

During the occupation of the part of Kherson Oblast in 2022, which is one of the least (5%) forested regions of Ukraine, a significant part of the forests suffered from fires, attacks and deforestation.  

The June 2023 blowing up of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant seriously damaged the forests of Kherson Oblast. Almost 55,000 hectares of forest on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River were flooded.

Background:

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russians have caused 2.2 trillion hryvnias (US$56.4 billion) in damage to the Ukrainian environment. 

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