This war has already caused irreparable harm to both people and the environment
It is difficult to immediately list all the misfortunes and tragedies that have been inflicted upon Ukraine as a result of Russia’s armed aggression. Thousands have been killed and injured, massive material and moral damage has been sustained, nature has been devastated, and countless human lives have been shattered. And all of this is happening today—in the heart of Europe, in the 21st century—for the sake of satisfying the imperial ambitions of the Russians and their mentally unstable leader, Vladimir Putin.
It is hard to say how long this war will continue, but even after it ends, we will still face the long and arduous task of overcoming the devastating consequences of military action. This war has already caused irreparable harm to both people and the environment, while thousands of landmines and unexploded ordnance will continue to pose a very real danger to us all for years to come.
Once the war is over, it will be necessary to carry out demining of affected territories, soil reclamation, and the restoration of water resources. It is clear that all of this will take considerable time and will require a high level of organisation, adequate funding, and the involvement of highly qualified specialists to carry out these critical tasks.
Recently, the media reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine had adopted a decision to establish the Institute for Environmental Restoration and Development of Ukraine. It is planned that this research institution will operate under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and will be responsible for addressing practical challenges in the field of environmental safety in the post-war period.
It is perhaps logical and appropriate that this institute will be subordinated specifically to the Ministry of Ecology, since this ministry is entrusted with the development of strategic programmes and plans for the protection of the environment and the oversight of their implementation. It is evident that in carrying out its tasks, the Ministry of Ecology will have to cooperate closely with other state institutions responsible for Ukraine’s security, particularly in the area of environmental protection.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU), the Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—all of these bodies must, to varying degrees, be involved in the process of restoring the environment and addressing the aftermath of war.
Intelligence services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular, will have to play an active role, as the Russian armed aggression has caused significant damage not only to Ukraine, but also to its immediate neighbours in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea basins.
There is hope that, in time, the positive experience gained by the Institute for Environmental Restoration and Development of Ukraine can be expanded and applied to solving environmental security issues and addressing the consequences of war both regionally and globally.
Oleh Bereziuk,
Institute for Global Politics
