How Russian Occupation Affects Ecology of Crimea

Since the occupation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has been brutally draining the natural resources of the peninsula and violating the environmental safety rules, as part of its politics of aggressive colonialism.

While ecologists raise concerns about the irreparable damage to the environment of the peninsula, the Kremlin continues to deny the harmful effects of the occupation, such as:

  • turning the peninsula into the military base;
  • the construction of the Kerch bridge and “Tavrida” highway;
  • cutting forests, polluting the sea, and excessive pumping of groundwater.

All these factors put the entire Black Sea region on the verge of ecological disaster. In our video, we summed up the key ways Russia has been destroying the ecosystem of the occupied Crimea.