The damage to the environment of the Black Sea coastal zone assessed so far is nearly ₴305 billion (over $8.4 billion), according to a Facebook post by Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. This includes the Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions, while assessing damage to Crimea will require large-scale work.
"Today, during a meeting in the Odesa Regional State Administration, I instructed the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine to intensify its work on the "camera-based" assessment of damage caused to the Crimean environment using satellite images and strengthening cooperation with relevant services and institutions. Based on the results, we will have a separate dashboard with analytics. After all, we have to bill the aggressor for every centimeter of mutilated Ukrainian land, for every cubic meter of emissions into the air, and for every destroyed ecosystem," Ruslan Strilets wrote.
After Crimea is liberated, inspectors will work on-site to calculate the damage. The State Environmental Inspection has already formed a personnel reserve of employees who are ready to start work as soon as it’s possible.
During the meeting, assessing the impact the Russian armed aggression had on the Black Sea was also discussed. The demolition of the Kakhovka HPP dam alone resulted in a huge amount of toxic pollutants entering the Black Sea waters. In addition, according to the Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea, the number of dolphins beached in the Black Sea coast countries has doubled since February 25, 2022, compared to the pre-war years.
The Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea will prepare a full report on the death of dolphins with an analysis of the dynamics. The State Environmental Inspection and researchers of the Center of Ecology of the Sea should also enhance their coordination to detect and record all cases of damage to the Black Sea inflicted by Russia.
In addition, the Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea will develop proposals for specific measures to restore the marine ecosystem, which will be included in the program that Ukraine will start discussing on international platforms early next year, seeking support from partners for restoration.
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