February 24 marks four years since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has been ongoing since 2014, but this date became the point when active hostilities spread across most regions of the country.
That morning, like millions of Ukrainians, we woke up to explosions. Alongside people, those who cannot hide in shelters or decide to relocate away from the frontline were also drawn into the war — animals.
In the first days of the full-scale invasion, it became clear: alongside the humanitarian catastrophe, another disaster was unfolding — an environmental one. Over these years, the war has destroyed entire ecosystems and killed millions of animals.
How Many Animals Have Died in Ukraine?
According to official estimates, more than 6 million farm animals have died in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war. These figures were cited by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the G20 summit. These numbers include only confirmed data from farming enterprises.
The exact scale of losses is impossible to calculate. Some territories remain occupied, and the vast majority of cases were never formally documented.
Additionally, from the first days of the full-scale invasion, russian forces occupied several protected natural areas, including the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, whose ecosystem included more than 500 plant species and over 3,000 animal species.
In total, eight nature reserves and ten national parks have been occupied. Some of these territories are part of Europe’s protected natural network. According to estimates, more than 80 species of animals in Ukraine are on the verge of extinction and may become completely extinct due to russian aggression.
Environmental Destruction
According to the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine, confirmed environmental damages have already exceeded 6 trillion hryvnias. Among them:
- UAH 1.29 trillion — damage to soil
- UAH 967 billion — damage to atmospheric air
- UAH 117.8 billion — pollution and contamination of water resources
- UAH 3.63 trillion — destruction of protected natural areas
The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture notes that these are only confirmed losses in territories currently under Ukraine’s control. The full extent of the damage will become known after de-occupation and comprehensive assessments of affected areas.
The consequences of russian aggression extending beyond Ukraine
The war affects not only Ukraine. According to research cited by The Guardian, greenhouse gas emissions during the first two years of the full-scale war exceeded the annual emissions of 175 countries worldwide. The volume of these emissions is comparable to the yearly emissions of 90 million cars.
All of this constitutes ecocide — consequences measured not only in trillions of hryvnias, but in decades of recovery. Today, we cannot fully grasp the scale of the real damage russia has inflicted on the environment. But we know that the consequences would have been even worse if not for people.
No organization can meet all needs alone. Helping animals during wartime is possible only through collective efforts: volunteers, soldiers who care for animals at their positions, people who donate, and families who adopt rescued animals. That is why we want to thank every single person who walks this path with us.
Supporting the army is fundamental. Supporting animals is humanity.
We believe that one day there will be no need to write reports that begin with the words “four years of war.” Until that day, we continue our mission alongside you — people who refuse to stay indifferent.
