The Effects of Armed Conflicts on the Environment

With the ongoing Russian military operations against Ukraine, reviewing the impact of the military forces’ activities on the environment is crucial. The topic is relevant not only because the devastation is immeasurable, but also because all the data proves that wars have effects that accelerate climate change. In this paper we review some of the environmental issues arising from Russian aggression, and we also refer to the effects of previous military conflicts of this kind. We deal with the pollution caused by war and the relationship between war and water. We touch on the destruction of some aspects of infrastructure (cultural goods, energy, health, transport) and its consequences.