Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the environmental damage inflicted on Ukraine has reached UAH 6.01 trillion (about US$144 billion) – the largest ecological loss recorded in Europe in modern history.

Source: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine

Details: According to estimates by the State Environmental Inspectorate, the total damage includes:

• UAH 1.29 trillion (US$30.4 billion) – damage to soil;
• UAH 967 billion (US$23 billion) – damage to atmospheric air;
• UAH 117.8 billion (US$2.8 billion) – pollution and contamination of water resources;
• UAH 3.63 trillion (US$86 billion) – destruction of areas within the nature reserve fund.

"At the end of 2024, environmental losses from the full-scale war amounted to UAH 2.78 trillion (US$66 billion), and today they already exceed UAH 6 trillion (US$141 billion). Sadly, this figure continues to grow every day, as does the scale of destruction of Ukraine's natural environment," noted Ihor Zubovych, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

The ministry emphasises that the sum of UAH 6.01 trillion reflects only verified losses in territories under Ukrainian control. The full extent of environmental damage will be known only after complete liberation and once comprehensive assessments can be carried out.

Background: The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023 caused a major ecological and hydrological collapse in Ukraine's south and the Black Sea region, wiping out natural ecosystems, altering hydrology and damaging protected areas.

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