Oil pollution, use as military training grounds, uncontrolled destruction of biodiversity – all of Ukraine's marine protected areas, without exception, are suffering from the combined negative impact of Russia's actions.
This was reported in a presentation by Viktor Demchenko, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marine Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Doctor of Biological Sciences.
In total, more than 272,000 hectares of protected marine areas are currently outside Ukraine's control. These are nature reserve sites along the coast of Crimea and the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine controls 460,000 hectares of marine protected areas, but all of them are also affected by the full-scale war.
Viktor Demchenko also reported that the enemy has occupied 27 territories belonging to the Emerald Network. Another 11 are within the combat zone. Ten wetlands of international importance are under occupation, and another seven are affected by military operations.
Occupation versus nature conservation
The protected areas currently controlled by Russia are in an extremely dangerous situation. According to the scientist, there are a number of key obstacles to their preservation:
- non-recognition or alteration of conservation status;
- changes to protection regimes;
- uncontrolled use of natural resources;
- absence of decisions based on scientific justification.
The scientist cited disturbing examples. The Molochny Estuary on the coast of the Sea of Azov was used by the occupiers as a training ground, and biological resources were handled uncontrollably. The Russian army also uses territory of the “Dzharylhatsky” National Park for military purposes, even though it is important for dolphins and fish spawning.
Impact assessment
The Ukrainian Institute of Marine Biology has developed its own algorithm to assess the degree of the war's impact on protected areas. This method takes into account a range of direct and indirect factors, which are assessed through expert analysis using a point-based system. According to this methodology, the “Zmiinyi Island” reserve suffered the most destructive impact.
Direct military impacts on protected areas are often localized. In contrast, indirect factors can have wider and longer-lasting consequences, such as secondary pollution or shifts in land use.
There are already significant changes recorded in key protected zones. Oil pollution and sunken vessels are regularly recorded in the Danube Biosphere Reserve. In 2025, a dredger was sunk at the river mouth. On January 2, as a result of a UAV attack, a large-scale fire occurred, causing approximately UAH 130 billion in damages. The Black Sea Biosphere Reserve is experiencing changes due to the disappearance of the Kakhovka Reservoir. In particular, water quality and phytoplankton development rates are changing.
However, there are also positive aspects. Viktor Demchenko noted that restricted access to some waters near the mouth of the Danube since 2014 has contributed to the recovery of sturgeon populations. There have also been recorded sightings of sturgeons near Khortytsia.
EcoPolitic reported that after the Russian attack on oil storage tanks in a port in the Odesa region, oil slicks are still “drifting” across the Black Sea. Recently, they covered more than 10,000 m² of the “Tuzly Estuaries” National Nature Park.
