Experts from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for the first time, based on the principle of Kakhovka HPP, calculated the losses of ecosystem services in Ukraine (all useful resources and benefits that a person can receive from nature), which, if their report is submitted, will help use the proposed principles and formula in perspective.

“In the first days after the hydroelectric plant was blown up, I had a conversation with Inger Andersen (United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP) and agreed to send a pilot mission to Ukraine to assess this act of ecocide. Next, a program of next steps to restore the environment should be developed,” said Minister of Environmental Protection and Resources Ruslan Strilets in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

He explained that this is the first example where experts have calculated the loss of ecosystem services in Ukraine.

“Before this, we only discussed the introduction of such principles into our legislation. This is an important component for calculating losses,” the minister clarified.

At the same time, he refrained from naming the calculated amount, calling it “still small,” since experts were unable to find the corresponding part of the flooded territory under occupation or dangerous for work due to constant shelling by Russian troops.

“But now we are not talking about big ones. The main thing is that there are already first measures to eliminate losses of ecosystem services, and not even by Ukrainian specialists, but a report by international experts. If this report is approved, we will be able to apply these principles and formulas here,” noted Strilets.

At the same time, he counts on the expert assistance of this UNEP mission to develop a “road map” for environmental restoration after the tragedy.

At the same time, the minister expressed the conviction that the damage from the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station dam, which tentatively amounts to 10% of all estimated losses in the environment with the beginning of the full-scale invasion, should be brought to the account of the aggressor.

“Some UAH 146 billion is just what we were able to calculate. The Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station dam should be the third case,” Strilets said.