CURRENT ISSUES OF COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF UKRAINE: NATIONAL-LEGAL AND INTERNATIONAL-LEGAL ASPECTS

Abstract

The article examines current issues of compensation for damage caused to the environment of Ukraine through the prism of national legal and international legal regulation. It is substantiated that environmental damage in Ukraine is systemic, long-term and multi-component in nature, as it includes pollution of atmospheric air, surface and groundwater, degradation and chemical damage to soils, destruction of forests, damage to the nature reserve fund, loss of biodiversity and negative impact on the health of the population. According to UNDP with reference to the Ministry of Environment, about 30% of protected areas of Ukraine, i.e. over 1.2 million hectares, have been affected by hostilities; At the same time, international assessments record significant environmental consequences of damage to industrial, energy and water facilities, which caused numerous episodes of air pollution and potentially serious contamination of groundwater and surface water.

Particular attention is paid to the problems of recording and proving environmental damage. It was found that, despite the creation of digital and institutional documentation tools, in particular the resource "EcoThreat" and coordination mechanisms with the participation of the Ministry of Environment, the State Environmental Inspectorate and international partners, significant difficulties remain associated with access to affected areas, the lack of unified assessment methods, the need for certified field equipment, as well as the need to integrate the collected data into national and international compensation procedures. It is emphasized that environmental damage is not limited to material losses: it has a direct impact on the safety of life and health of the population through toxic emissions, the entry of hazardous substances into water and soil, the deterioration of the sanitary and epidemiological condition of territories and the destruction of ecosystem services. It is concluded that effective compensation for such damage requires the coordination of internal procedures for accounting, assessment and recovery of damages with international liability mechanisms, as well as improving the evidentiary base for future compensation claims.

References

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