Ukraine is investigating over 270 Russian war crimes against its environment
Ukraine is currently investigating 271 war crimes against the environment committed by Russia since the start of the full-scale war. The investigations also cover 15 cases of ecocide.
Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin announced this during a virtual presentation at a meeting of the High-Level Group on the environmental impact of the war against Ukraine, held at the European Parliament, Ukrinform reports.
"The cases we are investigating involve crimes against the environment and ecocide in accordance with the Criminal Code. This includes the mass destruction of flora and fauna, air or water pollution, and any actions that could lead to a natural disaster. For the first time in history, Ukraine is treating attacks on its environment, committed on its territory, as international crimes. We are currently investigating 271 incidents related to war crimes against the environment, including 15 cases of ecocide during the Russian aggressive war against Ukraine," said Kostin.
Kostin highlighted that Ukrainians have faced direct attacks on environmental sites, including forests, freshwater bodies, and the marine environment, since the early days of the Russian invasion. Attacks on urban infrastructure and hazardous facilities, such as oil storage, have also led to environmental damage.
The General Prosecutor specifically mentioned particularly dangerous Russian crimes, such as the blow-up of the Kakhovka Dam, the shelling of nuclear facilities, and the attack of nuclear waste storage facilities.
He expressed confidence that Russian aggressors should be held accountable for crimes against the environment in Ukraine on both national and international levels.
"We refer to the provisions of international law regarding the crime of the Kakhovka Dam destruction. This case may become the first environmental crime punished by an international tribunal. Ukraine also intends to document the damages caused to the environment in a newly created registry for consideration by an international commission and for future compensation payments under international law," emphasized Kostin.
Kostin thanked the EU for political support, solidarity with Ukraine, continued financial and humanitarian aid, and the imposition of sanctions against the aggressor country. Legal assistance and expertise from the EU in investigating and qualifying Russian environmental crimes are also considered essential.
It was previously reported that, with broad support from EU countries and the international community, efforts are underway to establish a special tribunal to hold Russia accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Achieving justice and holding the aggressor accountable for crimes in Ukraine, including countering ecocide and restoring the environment, are integral parts of the Peace Formula proposed by Volodymyr Zelensky.
As of September, the damage to the Ukrainian environment due to Russia's full-scale invasion has already reached $57 billion.
