Ecological footprint of Russia’s Ukraine invasion

Zheleznyak, Mark; Donchyts, Gennadii; Maderich, Vladіmir; Dronova, Iryna; Tkalich, Pavel; Trybushnyi, D.; Faybishenko, Boris; Dvorzhak, Alla

doi:10.1126/science.ade6869

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Over the past several months, new information about the Russia‐Ukraine war and its environmental consequences has become available (Harada et al., 2022; Khilchevskyi, 2022; Pereira et al., 2022; Rawtani et al., 2022; Shevchuk et al., 2022; Shevchuk & Vyshnevskyi, 2022; Shumilova et al., 2023; V. Vyshnevskyi et al., 2023; Zheleznyak et al., 2022). In many cases, the main source of primary information about military events was and remains visual observation and local media reports.…”

Section: Methodology and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Rivers and Water Systems as Weapons and Casualties of the Russia‐Ukraine War

Gleick,

Vyshnevskyi,

Shevchuk

2023

Earth's Future

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The geophysical, hydrological, and ecological consequences of the Russia‐Ukraine war for the major rivers and water infrastructure in Ukraine are addressed here, focused on the dams and reservoirs of the Dnipro (Dnieper) River and major tributaries, up to and including the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023, using remote sensing systems, on‐the‐ground reports, and official sources. The rivers have long played a role as physical barriers during conflicts, but in the current war, water and built water systems have also been targeted for attacks and used as both offensive and defensive weapons. Among the consequences of the conflict have been both direct and indirect effects on civilian populations, agriculture, military operations, water supplies and quality, and natural ecosystems. An historical review shows that such attacks have occurred in the past, but the extent and severity of the current violence appear unprecedented, raising important questions of international law and how international legal and scientific communities should respond.

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Section: Methodology and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Rivers and Water Systems as Weapons and Casualties of the Russia‐Ukraine War

Gleick,

Vyshnevskyi,

Shevchuk

2023

Earth's Future

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“…The terroristic war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine brings new facts on the impacts on the aquatic ecosystems [264][265][266][267][268]. There were five main groups of impacts of this war on these ecosystems delineated: the destruction of the hydrotechnical facilities; water bodies' contamination; destruction and shutdown of the hydropower facilities and disorders of the HPP and NPP cooling ponds regime; navigation issues; and threats to fishery and aquaculture [268,269].…”

Section: Terrorism and Warmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Interacting Natural and Anthropogenic Stressors on Freshwater Ecosystems: Their Current Status and Future Prospects for 21st Century

Bănăduc,

Curtean-Bănăduc,

Barinova

et al. 2024

Water

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The inheritance of historic human-induced disruption and the fierceness of its impact change aquatic ecosystems. This work reviews some of the main stressors on freshwater ecosystems, focusing on their effects, threats, risks, protection, conservation, and management elements. An overview is provided on the water protection linked to freshwater stressors: solar ultraviolet radiation, thermal pollution, nanoparticles, radioactive pollution, salinization, nutrients, sedimentation, drought, extreme floods, fragmentation, pesticides, war and terrorism, algal blooms, invasive aquatic plants, riparian vegetation, and invasive aquatic fish. Altogether, these stressors build an exceptionally composite background of stressors that are continuously changing freshwater ecosystems and diminishing or even destroying their capability to create and maintain ongoing natural healthy products and essential services to humans. Environmental and human civilization sustainability cannot exist without the proper management of freshwater ecosystems all over the planet; this specific management is impossible if the widespread studied stressors are not deeply understood structurally and functionally. Without considering each of these stressors and their synergisms, the Earth’s freshwater is doomed in terms of both quantitative and qualitative aspects.

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“…The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia (applying the agreed-upon definition of the International Committee of the Red Cross 8 ), which started on 24 February 2022, represents an exceptional case with regard to its impact on the environment [9][10][11] and particularly on water resources and water infrastructure. Unlike previously reported conflicts within the territories of the Global South and emerging economies 5 , the current armed conflict occurs in a region characterized by a to military actions with four cases of sunken military objects and two due to release of chemicals as a result of shelling, five cases of damage to dams (four at reservoirs and one along the North Crimean canal), six cases of mines overflooding, one case of bacteriological pollution due to a mass poultry death and one case of interrupted operation of a hydroelectric station (HES) (Kakhovka HES).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Russia–Ukraine armed conflict on water resources and water infrastructure

et al. 2023

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The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia that began in late February 2022 has far-reaching environmental consequences, especially regarding water resources and management. Here we analysed the multifaceted impacts of the military actions on freshwater resources and water infrastructure during the first three months of the conflict. We identified the nature of the impacts, the kind of pressures imposed on the water sector and the negative consequences for the availability and quality of freshwater resources for the civilian population. Our results showed that many water infrastructures such as dams at reservoirs, water supply and treatment systems and subsurface mines have been impacted or are at risk from military actions. Continuation of the conflict will have multiple negative sustainability implications not only in Ukraine but also on a global scale, hampering achievement of clean water and sanitation, conservation and sustainable use of water resources, and energy and food security.

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Ecological footprint of Russia’s Ukraine invasion

Cited by 10 publications

References 6 publications

Rivers and Water Systems as Weapons and Casualties of the Russia‐Ukraine War

Rivers and Water Systems as Weapons and Casualties of the Russia‐Ukraine War

Multi-Interacting Natural and Anthropogenic Stressors on Freshwater Ecosystems: Their Current Status and Future Prospects for 21st Century

Impact of the Russia–Ukraine armed conflict on water resources and water infrastructure

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