The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has significantly impacted the state of atmospheric air in the country. Ukrainian scientists conducted a comprehensive study for the first time in the world to determine how combat actions affect atmospheric pollution in both the short and long term.
This is reported by Finway
Immediate Consequences of Attacks and Local Pollution Peaks
Experts from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the National Academy of Sciences analyzed changes in air quality from 2022 to 2024 using data from ground monitoring systems and Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite observations. The study showed that after massive shelling of Ukrainian cities, the level of harmful substances in the air sharply increases—on average from 100% to 400%. In some cases, extreme exceedances were recorded—over 1000% of normal levels.
At the same time, researchers faced a limited amount of data, as monitoring systems do not cover all regions. Nevertheless, instrumental evidence confirmed 255 instances where harmful pollutants from the epicenters of strikes reached air quality measurement points.
“Understanding this dual role of military factors is important for documenting the environmental consequences of Russian aggression, justifying international claims for compensation, and shaping post-war strategies for rebuilding the air quality management system in Ukraine,” emphasize the scientists.
Long-term Environmental Changes and the Paradox of War
The study revealed that not only the attacks themselves but also their consequences affect air quality. Among the long-term factors, scientists identified the destruction of industrial enterprises, disruptions in energy supply, widespread use of diesel generators, population migration, and changes in transportation flows.
In large cities and industrial centers, a trend towards a decrease in the concentration of particulate matter, carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) has been recorded. However, in areas near the front line, these indicators increased instead. At the same time, energy consumption during wartime, associated with a shift to more harmful types of fuel, led to an increase in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) levels in the air.
Overall, Ukraine demonstrates an anomalous improvement in air quality: satellite data indicate that pollution levels have decreased in most regions. In particular, the concentration of NO₂ in cities and along the line of combat operations has decreased by 10–30%. The main reason for this has been the destruction of industry and infrastructure, resulting in the disappearance of sources of harmful emissions.
A striking example is Mariupol, where the level of pollution significantly decreased after the shutdown of “Azovstal.” Additionally, favorable weather conditions contributed to a reduction of formaldehyde in the northern regions by 10–12%.
However, against the backdrop of overall improvement, dangerous local pollution peaks persist, arising after shelling, posing a serious threat to public health. Thus, the war creates an environmental paradox: emissions overall decrease due to the destruction of production and transport, but short-term spikes in pollution have a critical impact on people.