Impacts of war on Ukrainian nature

The network of nature reserves that has been a centrepiece of Ukraine’s environmental policy has been devastated by Russian aggression. Violation of their integrity threatens endemic species and irreplaceable ecosystems; indeed, entire ecosystems have been lost; extensive fires, illegal logging, mechanical damage and chemical contamination of the soil cover are responsible for a critical reduction in forest cover, and degradation of the soil and water conservation and recreational functions of the nature reserve fund. Measures are proposed to make the best of a bad situation at the local level, as well as ways to prevent a bigger ecological catastrophe.