KHARKIV, UKRAINE, Feb 26 — The Russian Federation caused environmental damage to Ukraine’s nature worth about $63 billion over the two years of the full-scale invasion.

Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv Oblasts suffered the most due to the war with Russia, reported the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

Environmental damage to Ukraine over two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion / Infographic: t.me/mindovkillia

In total, Russians mined 30% of agricultural land in Ukraine. Damages to water infrastructure and water pollution amounted to $8 million. The Russian army burned about 708,000 tons of oil, refined products, and gas.

In total, there are more than 3,800 cases of environmental damage in Ukraine. Experts recorded each of these cases, but the damage continues to increase. Damages caused by the Russian army include soil contamination, forest fires that spread throughout at least 624 hectares of areas, air pollution, and a drop in water levels in reservoirs.

As reported, on February 9, at about 10:46 p.m., the Russian army struck Kharkiv with Shahed kamikaze drones. The Russian military shelled an oil depot in the Nemyshlianskyi district of the city, which caused a fuel leak. The fire burned down 15 private houses to the ground.

According to the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ruslan Strilets, about 3,000 tonnes of oil leaked due to these strikes. 

According to him, this environmental catastrophe caused damage worth 30 million hryvnias [$781,3 thousand], but the minister adds that specialists will conduct further tests and additional samples to make a final calculation.

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