The State of Ukraine's Protected Areas: an interim update on damages from the full-scale invasion

The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has become a humanitarian and political crisis. Since the very start of the invasion, it has also been an ecological disaster, with Russian troops utilising protected areas both in an attempt to access strategic Ukrainian settlements, but also as locations in which to conduct active warfare. The frontline has now crossed and retreated from many protected areas, many are still occupied and many are still the sites of active hostilities. This study found the most common damages to protected areas are: physical destruction of habitats and wildlife and wildlife behavioural changes from explosions; chemical and physical pollution from explosive materials; fires caused by shelling; damages to soil and plant cover from heavy military vehicles, equipment and defence infrastructure; and military exploitation of natural resources. Given the occupation, combat and mining with explosives, it will be years before Ukraine can account for the full extent of damage to its protected area system. This paper provides an interim assessment of the damages to protected areas so far and urges the conservation and policy communities to monitor the situation moving forward.