According to preliminary estimates, the damage caused to the Kharkiv Oblast ecosystem by Russian attacks reaches ~$9,5bln, said Yevhen Ivanov, deputy head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.

The estimated damage includes soil pollution, forest fires that have affected no less than 624 hectares of plantations, atmospheric air pollution, and a drop in the water level in reservoirs.

“Undoubtedly, the actions of the Russian invaders caused colossal damage to the region’s ecosystems. If we speak in numbers, according to preliminary estimates, the Kharkiv Oblast natural resources have been mutilated by almost UAH350bln. The occupiers must bear responsibility for every crime against the Ukrainian people and the country’s ecosystems,” said Ivanov.

The Kharkiv Oblast State Environmental Inspectorate recorded more than 680 crimes against the environment. They plan to study the state of protected areas and the possibility of implementing pre-war projects, develop new plans, and look for ways of restoration. One of the critical issues is the increase in revenues from environmental taxes and other payments to budgets at all levels.

During the year of the full-scale war, the environmental damage caused to Kharkiv Oblast reached UAH 15 bln (~$400mln).