Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak participated online in an event focused on the environmental security clause of the Peace Formula. The event was held at the Ukrainian Pavilion during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku and moderated by Ukraine’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Hrynchuk.
According to Andriy Yermak, there are 2,500 documented cases of environmental damage, with 200 environmental war crimes currently under investigation. He emphasized that Russian aggression also undermines global food security.
“To build resilience against climate change, it is necessary to protect against the barbarity of Putin’s regime. Ukraine is on the frontline of this fight. President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula includes a plan to restore global stability, with the eighth point particularly crucial for environmental security,” he stated.
Svitlana Hrynchuk highlighted that Russian aggression is polluting rivers, destroying energy and transport infrastructure, and affecting not only Ukraine but also the broader region.
“The situation changes daily, bringing new challenges. We met in Helsinki to discuss ecological crimes and how we can counter them while jointly developing principles for Ukraine’s recovery,” she noted.
Oleksandr Bevz, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, also spoke at the event online. He underscored that President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula gives specific attention to the environmental consequences of the war. He pointed out that at a thematic conference on environmental security held in Finland, over 60 countries and international organizations confirmed their support for a proper assessment of environmental damage caused by Russian aggression, holding those responsible for ecological crimes accountable, and ensuring Ukraine’s “green” recovery.
“It is crucial for Ukraine and the world to prevent the environment from becoming a silent victim of this war. This is especially important in light of intensified Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities and escalating hostilities,” Oleksandr Bevz concluded.
Overall, the event in Baku brought together representatives from over 100 countries and international organizations.