The «hitchhikers» on the streets of cities in Canada, the USA, and Germany were flagging down cars and pedestrians to deliver their message as part of the international campaign #StopEcocideUkraine by UAnimals.
UAnimals organized this picket together with activists from Toronto, New York, Seattle, Augsburg, and the organization Klych.
This is necessary to remind the world that Russia is killing people and animals, destroying cities, and devastating our ecosystems. The terrorism of this country is unacceptable.
During the full-scale war:
▶️ Russia has caused environmental damage worth 2 trillion hryvnias;
▶️ 80 species of animals are on the verge of extinction, and over 600 species have been affected;
▶️ 20% of Ukraine’s protected areas have been affected by the war;
▶️ 183,000 square meters of soil are contaminated with harmful substances;
▶️ 2.4 million hectares of forests need restoration in the de-occupied territories, while 495,000 hectares are still under occupation or in conflict zones.
▶️ 10 national parks, 8 reserves, and 2 biosphere reserves are occupied – in some of them, hunting and capturing of wildlife are allowed.
UAnimals has also sent an official appeal to the UN Human Rights Council, calling for the establishment of a special international tribunal on Russia’s environmental crimes during the war in Ukraine.
The terrorist state must be held accountable. #StopEcocideUkraine
