As millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee, leaving behind the homes they built, the communities they nurtured, and the memories they cherished, a haunting question lingers in the shadows: where do the voiceless—the forests, the flora, the fauna, and the creatures of the wild—seek refuge when their sanctuary becomes a battlefield? The Russian invasion, in addition to devastating human life, has triggered an ecological crisis that threatens Ukraine’s rich biodiversity and environmental stability. This aspect of the war tends to fly beneath the radar and is fraught with implications not only for Ukraine but also for the interlinked ecosystems that support life throughout the region and beyond.
Ukraine (according to reports it submitted under the Convention on Biological Diversity prior to the war) is home to 35% of Europe’s biodiversity and is thus a vital and irreplaceable ecological sanctuary. The forests, covering 16% of the country’s land, and wetlands are not just landscapes; they are thriving habitats for over 70,000 species, many of which are rare or endemic to these areas. Yet, these rich ecosystems now lie under siege. Shelling, wildfires, and industrial destruction from the invasion are tearing apart not only the physical landscape but also endangering species that rely on these habitats for survival. While the human cost is unfathomable, the environmental devastation unfolding in its wake is equally profound, with long-term consequences that threaten to disrupt the very foundations of life in the region and beyond.
Displacement Without Escape
The concept of ‘home’ takes on a new dimension in war, not just for humans but for the entire natural world. For humans, displacement brings the possibility of refuge in other countries, but nature lacks such mobility: when habitats are destroyed, species face heightened risks of extinction. EcoAction, a Ukrainian environmental organisation, found that since the full-blown invasion began in February 2022, over 1,700 cases of ecological damage have been recorded. Forests, a cornerstone of Ukraine’s biodiversity, have been particularly affected, with fires from conflict destroying more than 60,000 hectares. Rivers and wetlands, which are critical for both wildlife and agriculture, are being polluted by heavy metals and industrial chemicals released during the war. These pollutants can spread beyond Ukraine’s borders, impacting regional water supplies and agricultural productivity.
Industrial complexes like chemical plants, oil depots, and factories have been subject to aerial bombardment and transformed into unwitting battlegrounds. The environmental impact extends to agricultural fields, which are now littered with unexploded ordnance, remnants of trenches, and destroyed equipment. These areas, which were once agriculturally fruitful and fertile ecosystems, have become unsafe and unproductive. The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) estimates that within just the first four months of the invasion, Ukraine’s agricultural sector has suffered more than $4.29 billion in economic losses – a blow that goes beyond finances to disrupting the lives of those who depended on these fields.
Wildlife and livestock have similarly been affected, as grasslands once rich with resources have turned into burned barren wastelands. According to estimates from KSE Agrocenter, 42,000 sheep and goats; 92,000 cattle; 258,000 pigs; and more than 5.7 million poultry have died – not as direct casualties of combat, but as victims of a war that has obliterated the landscapes they once called home. Marine life, especially in the Black Sea to Ukraine’s south, has been particularly hard hit. The Ukrainian biologist Ivan Rusev estimates the number of Black Sea dolphins killed as collateral damage has reached the tens of thousands because of naval activities, underwater detonations and habitat destruction, placing them in the category of unintended casualties of the conflict and disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.
Beyond the immediate destruction lies the possibilities for an even larger scope of an eco-catastrophic geographic region. One of the most concerning risks is posed by attacks near nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe. The potential release of radioactive material could have catastrophic consequences for both human populations and natural ecosystems. The amount of contamination would render vast areas uninhabitable for wildlife, disrupting habitats and threatening the survival of countless species. United Nations human rights experts would even go so far as to say that it would echo the Chernobyl disaster, with impacts rippling across national borders, affecting health systems, food security, and environmental stability throughout Europe and beyond.
The war has broken apart habitats and disrupted migratory routes crucial for wildlife survival. Once-thriving wetlands that served as vital stopovers for migratory birds are now degraded, forcing species to navigate unfamiliar and often perilous paths. A study by Current Biology reveals that eagles have made large deviations from their traditional migratory routes. These endangered birds have altered their migration routes to avoid conflict zones, leading to longer, more exhausting journeys with fewer places to rest. At the same time, other endangered species – including the European bison, lynx, wolves and sturgeon – are struggling to survive as military operations and environmental destruction continue to shrink their habitats. Meanwhile, the war’s disruption of seasonal patterns has also caused bears to emerge from hibernation earlier than usual, highlighting the broader ecological imbalance triggered by the invasion.
However, as species that call the land, sea and sky their home increasingly come under threat, reclaiming their territories and restoring their ecosystems has become increasingly difficult during years of continuing conflict. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has even reported that investments to improve the management of protected areas – including park facilities and infrastructure – were frozen, while the planned protection of over 10,000 hectares of virgin forest, which was supposed to take place in 2022, was also suspended.
The consequences of habitat destruction ripple across any number of ecosystems, intertwining with the lives of people and animals alike. As Ukrainians scrambled to evacuate in the face of advancing conflict, the challenges of protecting domestic and wild animals became starkly apparent. Just days after Russia’s invasion began, residents began receiving guidance from European authorities on how to evacuate with their pets. Initially, animals accompanying those fleeing abroad were allowed to cross borders without meeting the European Union’s veterinary requirements. However, those regulations were later tightened after much debate about biosecurity risks following Ukraine’s high incidence of rabies.
Despite the overwhelming devastation, efforts to conserve Ukraine’s natural heritage persist, even at a time of dire circumstances. The scope of this ecological devastation is not yet fully clear, as conditions resembling the war zone make research nearly impossible. Gathering accurate data is hindered by safety issues, logistical challenge and widespread disruptions of marine and coastal environments. Despite these challenges, conservation work continues, but all too often it is sidelined by the most urgent humanitarian needs.
Ecologists and humanitarian volunteers are risking their lives to save the homes of countless wildlife. Vetmarket Pluriton volunteers initially rescued animals in the liberated towns of Irpin and Bucha, in the area around Kyiv. As the conflict intensified in eastern Ukraine, they expanded their efforts to Bakhmut and its surrounding settlements. Volunteers of WWF-Ukraine and SoftServe Ukraine also do essential work on restoration of the homes of the wildlife, planting over 3,000 saplings of common oak, European fir, cherry, and small-leaved lime during the war. These trees will mature and one day contribute to a healthy forest in the Shpyl’chyna tract, southeast of Lviv in western Ukraine, that will shelter and nourish myriad wildlife. These efforts are just a small glimpse of what is hopefully yet to come. It is a battle to recover habitats, protect vulnerable biodiversity, and heal the fractured balance of nature.
A Global Concern
The war’s devastation extends far beyond Ukraine’s borders, with the destruction of its protected natural areas carrying global consequences. A report by Ukraїner estimates that 25% of Ukraine’s protected nature areas are now occupied by Russian forces. This includes approximately 900 protected sites, fourteen of which are internationally significant wetlands. Some of these belong to the Emerald Network, a pan-European system designed to safeguard endangered species and habitats. While some areas have been reclaimed, those in the east and south remain occupied and this situation has led to significant habitat loss. This showcases the strong connection between human conflict and environmental degradation, revealing how local crises have global impacts. The degradation of ecosystems, the release of dangerous pollutants into air, water and soil, spill over to other nations, exacerbating climate challenges and compromising biodiversity worldwide.
On another note, the war has diverted global resources and attention from pressing environmental challenges, including efforts to meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Instead of advancing climate action and biodiversity protection, resources are being allocated to recovery and reconstruction, leaving the natural world and wildlife without the support they desperately need. The war underscores the fragility of progress towards sustainability in the face of geopolitical conflicts, with the global community faces indirect consequences. The release of greenhouse gases from burning infrastructure and the disruption of energy supplies in Europe highlights the interconnected nature of environmental and geopolitical challenges. Addressing these issues requires international cooperation, emphasising the importance of integrating environmental considerations into conflict resolution and recovery efforts.
Environmental restoration must be integrated as one of the key pillars of post-war recovery. Rebuilding efforts should focus on reforestation, soil remediation and wetland rehabilitation to restore injured ecosystems. Reforestation can help recreate the carbon sinks that were lost to deforestation and fires, and soil remediation methods can mitigate contamination from heavy metals and other pollutants. Rehabilitating wetlands, meanwhile, is crucial to restoring water filtration systems and providing habitats for displaced species. This work will benefit biodiversity, and it will also help with agriculture, water security and climate resilience in the future, giving wildlife a chance to return to their lost homes and revive the delicate balance of nature that was upset by war.
Establishing a national environmental recovery framework, supported by international collaboration, can ensure that restoration efforts are well-coordinated and scientifically grounded. Fortunately, between 2022 and 2024, the International Fund for Animal Welfare was working tirelessly to mitigate the impact of the war on animals and their habitats. Their work in Ukraine, supported by international donors, focused around two main initiatives entitled Feed, Treat, Heat, & Reunite and Rescue, Rehab, Rehome, & Release. Such international cooperation, including funding and technical expertise, will be key for Ukraine’s environmental and economic recovery. Beyond providing immediate relief, such initiatives also help to rebuild habitats, making sure that Ukraine’s wildlife may return and thrive in their natural homes.
War’s Environmental Legacy
The Russian invasion vividly highlights that the impacts of war stretch well outside of the conflict zone, and reach the very essence of life—our ecosystems. When ecosystems are destroyed, they can no longer provide as resources to sustain habitation for wildlife, severing vital connections and displacing species that depend on them for survival. The consequences ripple beyond the local population and touches the global community. Local stability is undermined as toxic pollutants, broken food systems, and shattered habitats rip through the wider world. All of these environmental ramifications require global collaboration and new measures to protect the natural havens and secure a long-term sustainability.
Evaluating the impacts of war on the environment is not an abstract issue, but rather, one that requires urgent action to lay the groundwork for a more just and enduring society. In the context of deepening international rivalries and a society’s struggle with deepening environmental challenges, nature as a basic need must be prioritized in the efforts to solve the war and post-war conflicts. Through integrating environmental restoration into its recovery strategies, Ukraine has an opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the overall ecological repercussions of conflict. Just as the rebuilding of cities and communities is essential for recovery, so too is the protection and restoration of nature – a critical step towards healing for both Ukraine and the planet.
Nature’s recovery is a slow and deliberate process, requiring decades to rebuild what can be destroyed in moments. A single tree may take years to regrow, but entire ecosystems – intricate webs of flora, fauna, and environmental balance – can take human lifetimes to recover, if recovery is possible at all. This reality extends to the delicate populations of rare species, many of which are on the brink of extinction. The scars left by war on the natural world stand as a haunting testament of the deep and lasting wounds human conflict inflicts on all forms of life, echoing through generations. As Ukraine continues to face the intertwined challenges of climate crises, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical instability, the question looms larger: will nature ever truly heal from this devastation, and how much of what we have lost can ever be restored?