The Impact of Military Operations on the Environment

Abstract

Following Russia’s war against Ukraine, launched on 24 February 2022, it is worth looking at howoperations of the military affect both the built and the natural environment. The topic is current not onlydue to the spotlight shed on the destruction in the war in Ukraine. During the 2022 NATO Summit inMadrid – first time in the history of NATO – the effects of climate change were identified as a highpriority security threat based on the Climate Change and Security Action Plan adopted on 14 June 2021.It is proven by data that war – among others – has effects that speed up climate change. The followingpages deal with some of the environmental issues caused by the Russian aggression, regarding both thebuilt and the natural environment, while also referring to previous examples. However, a completesurvey is not – and cannot be – an aim of this article, as the information available is still fragmented,and many times contradictory. Furthermore, constrains on length limit the number of effects representedas well. Thus the paper deals with the environmental pollution caused by war, the relation between warand water, and mentions the destruction of infrastructure (cultural sites, energy, healthcare,transportation) and its consequences.