A legal assessment of the environmental, humanitarian and economic impacts of the Russia/Ukraine armed conflict

Abstract

Armed conflict (war) is always a human tragedy, and the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict is no exception. Armed conflict tends to inflict direct damage on animals, vegetation, soil and water systems, with ensuing effects on local or regional ecosystems. Armed conflicts result in loss of life and other casualties, in destruction of property, and in socio-economic disruption. The author focuses on the environmental, humanitarian and economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict. The Russia-Ukraine armed conflict is compromising the Ukrainian environment and its resources (and by extension, the global environment), lives, livelihoods, and exacerbating the destruction of socio-economic infrastructures in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is devastating Ukraine’s environment, killed tens of thousands of Ukrainians and (hospital) facilities, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, etc. In other words, besides the loss of life anddestroyed socio-economic infrastructures such as residential and commercial buildings, educational facilities, medical widespread destruction of crucial socio-economic infrastructures, Russia's war on Ukraine has also had a profound environmental impact. The author brings out the environmental, humanitarian and economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict on Ukraine. The author further throws light on how the Russia-Ukraine war has impacted Russia economically.