War

12 Mar 2025

Nature Victimized by Warmongers: Why the Russia-Ukraine War Must Stop Right Now

In the shadows of this catastrophe, another silent victim is perishing: nature.

The war in Ukraine has claimed thousands of human lives, displaced millions, and brought unimaginable suffering. Yet, in the shadows of this catastrophe, another silent victim is perishing: nature itself. As political leaders continue their reckless war games, forests are reduced to ashes, rivers are poisoned, air becomes unbreathable, and entire ecosystems face extinction. The environmental destruction caused by this war is not just a tragedy for Ukraine; it is a catastrophe for the planet. And it must end now.
 
War’s Assault on Nature: A Crime Against the Environment
 
1. A Sky Choked by War
Since the war began, the conflict has pumped approximately 230 million tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In 2024 alone, 55 million tonnes were released, primarily due to forest fires and military operations. Over 92,100 hectares of forest burned in war-torn areas, twice the normal rate, turning carbon-absorbing trees into carbon-emitting infernos.
 
The bombings, missile strikes, and relentless combat have severely degraded air quality in this region. In major conflict zones, explosions release enormous amounts of pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), heavy metals, and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The burning of oil depots, industrial sites, and military equipment has created massive clouds of black smoke, contributing to respiratory illnesses and worsening climate change. The war has turned the region into one of the most polluted places on Earth, with consequences extending beyond its borders.
 
Ukraine's drone attack on Russia's Klyntsy oil fields on January 19, 2024, released a large amount of greenhouse gases into the region, sparking backlash from critics.
 
2. Waterways Turned Toxic
Rivers have suffered beyond measure. In one of the most glaring acts of ecological terrorism, chemicals, ammonia, and nitrates were deliberately released into the Seym River, killing thousands of fish and rendering the water unsafe for any form of life. The explosion at the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 led to catastrophic flooding, washing toxic materials into drinking supplies, destroying entire ecosystems, and uprooting communities.
 
Meanwhile, in the Kerch Strait, Tankers spilled 3,700 tons of low-grade fuel oil, contaminating over 34 kilometers of shoreline. The marine ecosystem collapsed, with at least 11 dolphins washing up dead in just one incident. As the world scrambles to address climate change, this war actively sabotages global efforts, poisoning one of the planet’s most vital resources: water.
 
On 15 December 2024, the Russian tankers sustained serious damages which led to the contamination of the sandy area with a length of 1.8 km
 
3. Agricultural Devastation: The Destruction of Europe’s Breadbasket
Ukraine, once one of the world’s top grain producers, now faces severe agricultural degradation. With countless hectares turned into battlefields, bombs have made farmlands unworkable, setting fire to crops and contaminating soil with toxic residues. Unexploded ordnance now litters agricultural fields, making vast areas unfit for cultivation. The war’s destruction of Ukraine’s agricultural output has fueled global food insecurity, hitting developing nations hardest. The impact is not just local—this disruption has triggered a global food crisis, driving up prices and worsening hunger in vulnerable regions dependent on Ukrainian grain exports.
 
4. Wildlife Caught in the Crossfire
The war has displaced more than humans. Entire species have been forced to flee their natural habitats as forests and wetlands are bombed to oblivion. The destruction of Sviati Hory National Park, where 80% of its 12,000 hectares have been wiped out, is only one example of the war’s relentless assault on biodiversity.
 
Animal migration patterns are disrupted, breeding grounds are destroyed, and ecosystems that took centuries to develop are vanishing in mere months. The destruction of forests and wetlands, combined with the noise and chaos of warfare, has driven animals away from their native environments. This forced migration disrupts local ecosystems, leading to imbalances that could have far-reaching ecological consequences. As species struggle to adapt or find new habitats, their survival is at risk, further compounding the war’s ecological toll.
 
The War Profiteers: How Warmongers Ensure Destruction Continues
The war could have ended months ago. Negotiations could have been pursued. Yet, NATO and the EU, particularly France under Macron’s hawkish leadership, insist on keeping the conflict alive. Macron’s latest push for a European nuclear deterrent only adds fuel to the fire, guaranteeing that the war machine keeps running at the expense of peace, stability, and the environment.
 
Western arms manufacturers rake in billions while forests burn, rivers are poisoned, and fields are scarred with landmines. This is not about democracy or sovereignty; this is about power, profit, and control—at nature’s expense.
 
The War Must Stop—Now
Every moment this war drags on, the planet suffers. Every new weapon delivered ensures more greenhouse gases, more poisoned water, more devastated farmland, and more animals lost forever. The war is not just a human catastrophe—it is an environmental crime against future generations.
It is time for world leaders to stop fueling destruction and start demanding peace. Not tomorrow. Not in six months. Now. Because every second lost means more irreparable damage, not just for Ukraine but for the world.
 
The war must end before it takes everything down with it—including the planet itself.

 

Source :


cover cover cover cover cover

  • Make Me Move (feat. KARRA)

    Why we need a UN Treaty on plastic pollution The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK charity working on business, learning, insights & analysis, and communications to accelerate the transition towards the circular economy.

  • Make Me Move (feat. KARRA)

    Air Pollution for Kids Air is all around us and we need it to survive.

  • Make Me Move (feat. KARRA)

    Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution? Our oceans are being filled and killed by throwaway plastics.

  • Make Me Move (feat. KARRA)

    Climate Change, Ecological Crisis and Sustainability We are all agents for change in climate action.

  • Make Me Move (feat. KARRA)

    Climate Racism Climate Racism: Social Inequalities in the Age of Climate Change

newsletter

The best of Tired Earth delivered to your inbox

Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from Tired Earth

By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Tired Earth. Click here to visit our Privacy Policy..