On November 6, International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, the MFA of Ukraine reminds of the shared duty to protect the environment for the sake of future generations.
Armed conflicts not only destroy human lives but also cause significant damage to the environment: they devastate ecosystems and biodiversity, pollute soil, water, and air with heavy metals and chemicals, and inflict irreparable harm on the health of millions of people around the world.
Ukraine, which is defending itself against Russia’s armed aggression, understands better than anyone the scale of the complex environmental threats caused by war. Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka HPP, shelling of critical infrastructure, pollution of rivers and soils, fires in nature reserves, and large-scale mining of Ukrainian land - all of this disrupts the natural balance and inflicts irreparable damage on the environment, not only in Ukraine but throughout the entire region.
The Report of the UN Secretary-General dated September 9, 2025, demonstrates the tremendous negative impact of wars on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 13 “Climate Action,” 14 “Life Below Water,” and 15 “Life on Land.”
Despite the growing negative consequences for people and the environment, the Russian Federation refuses to cease hostilities, rejects peace efforts, and continues to prolong the war and intensify terror. This once again underscores the need to increase pressure on the aggressor state in order to compel it to end the war.
Ukraine consistently advocates for strengthening international environmental protection mechanisms aimed, in particular, at protecting the environment during armed conflicts. Three Ukrainian resolutions adopted within the framework of the UN Environment Assembly have become an important addition to this mechanism and are contributing to improving the situation in this field.
Ukraine will continue to keep the issue of preservation of environmental protection in armed conflicts among the priorities of international environmental institutions, in particular within the framework of its planned work during the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly, which will soon begin its work in Nairobi.
Ukraine will continue to make every effort to ensure that environmental protection in the context of armed conflicts remains among the priorities of international environmental institutions, including within the framework of the upcoming seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, which will soon begin its work in Nairobi.
We call on the international community to further consolidate its efforts to preserve the most valuable - a healthy, safe, and green future for next generations.