Ukraine, Sweden, and UNDP will expand cooperation in assessing environmental damage

Ukraine, Sweden, and the UNDP continue their joint work to document the environmental impact of the war, develop approaches to damage assessment, and restore territories, the Ministry of Economy press service reported on Tuesday.

"To properly assess environmental damage and subsequently compensate for losses, it is critical to consolidate the efforts of all government agencies and strengthen international support. In the context of a full-scale war, the Ministry is systematically working to protect the environment, and the research presented forms the necessary analytical basis for decision-making and improving public policy," noted Ihor Zubovych, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, during a meeting of the Project Council.

The meeting presented research on identifying explosive substances in soils, water pollution resulting from military operations, and a pilot case for restoring the territories of the Kamyanska Sich National Park.

The Ministry noted that, as part of a UNDP project, the State Environmental Inspectorate received 10 mini-mobile laboratories and 15 quadcopters in 2025. In addition to equipping 12 laboratories with reagents, approximately 600 inspectors were trained in identifying and recording environmental crimes.

The event took place at the Coordination Center for Environmental Damage Assessment with the participation of representatives of the relevant Verkhovna Rada committee, the State Environmental Inspectorate, and international partners.

The UNDP Environmental Damage Assessment Project, funded by the Government of Sweden, aims to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to pay reparations for damage caused by Russian aggression.