Russian aggression in Kharkiv Oblast caused $11.11 billion (about 400 billion hryvnas) of damages in the region since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine and the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine. 

The environment of Donetsk oblast ($18.615 billion), Luhansk oblast ($13.233 billion), and Kharkiv oblast suffered the most in Ukraine. The harm to these regions in the East of Ukraine ($42.95 billion) composes 72% of the environmental damage caused by Russia to Ukraine since February 24, 2023.

Read more: 570,000 Hectares of Agricultural Land are Considered to be Mined in Kharkiv Oblast

Key data

  • The estimated damage to the Ukrainian environment caused by the full-scale invasion totals $59.7 billion. The air quality suffered $29.6 billion, soil suffered $27.7 billion, water was harmed by $2.2 billion, and the Ukrainian nature reserves fund suffered $0.2 billion of damages. 
  • 30% of Ukrainian territories have to be checked for mines. It’s an area larger than, for instance, the United Arab Emirates. 
  • $2.8 billion of the whole is damages caused by Russians blowing up Kakhovka Dam. 
  • 90% of fires happening because of man-made causes (for instance, arson, violations of the safety requirements, burning down agricultural waste) happen because of military actions; 
  • ≈11.2 million pieces of ammunition exploded in Ukraine during the first year of the full-scale invasion. 

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