Nature in Danger: The destruction of nature in Ukraine during the war

Panel discussion webinar on the ecocide waged against Ukraine and its devastating impact.

Please join us for an eye-opening online event organized by Ukrainian Jersey City as part of its ongoing Ukrainian Nature in Danger project. For the third time, the organization is highlighting the growing environmental crisis facing Ukraine’s unique and fragile ecosystems. The destruction of nature and habitats is not a local issue — it extends far beyond Ukraine’s borders, carrying dire consequences for neighboring regions and the global environment. The urgency to respond to this unfolding ecocide is paramount as it threatens the balance and survival of our natural world.

As the war continues, new environmental dangers are emerging across all regions of Ukraine.

Groundwater and soil contamination in coal mining areas is severely affecting agriculture and human health, while the fate of Ukraine’s rare animals — including the endangered steppe marmot — spotlights the toll of war on both wildlife and domestic animals struggling to survive amid habitat destruction and pollution.

This international panel discussion will bring together experts and researchers from around the world who specialize in ecology, conservation and environmental recovery. Together, they will discuss the scale of destruction, the science behind it, and the solutions needed to reverse the damage.

Key topics include:

 Global food insecurity and price increases resulting from disrupted Ukrainian agriculture.

 Demining of forests, farms and waterways — Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country

in the world, with minefields covering approximately 30% of its territory.

 The Kherson Dam explosion, which devastated habitats, contaminated soil and water

systems, and caused a large chemical spill in the Black Sea.

 Forest destruction and fires raging at the front lines.

 Ruined chemical and electric plants releasing toxins into surrounding environments.

 Groundwater and soil contamination in coal mining regions which affect agriculture and

human health.

 The impact of war on Ukraine’s wildlife and domestic animals, including the fate of rare

animals.

Learn how experts are addressing these environmental emergencies and find out how you can take action to help protect and restore Ukraine’s natural heritage for future generations.

Date: April 26, 2026

Time: 1:30 p.m. EST

Location: Online