ECOLOGICAL TERRORISM IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIA’S ARMED AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE: LEGAL AND SECURITY DIMENSIONS

Abstract

The Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine, which began in 2014 and escalated to full- scale war in February 2022, has demonstrated the multidimensional nature of modern warfare. Unlike the classic wars of the 20th century, today’s armed conflicts go far beyond traditional military operations. They encompass the information space, the economic sphere, the humanitarian dimension and, most importantly, directly affect the environment and climate security. The war in Ukraine has become a striking example of how the term “ecological terrorism” is no longer an abstract concept. The deliberate destruction by Russian occupiers of infrastructure, industrial enterprises, energy facilities, agricultural land, forests, and water resources is causing enormous damage to the natural environment. The consequences of such policies are long-term and extend far beyond Ukraine’s borders, affecting the European continent as a whole. The relevance of this study is determined by several factors. First, the Ukrainian state is currently faced with the need to simultaneously resist aggression and document crimes against the environment in order to demand compensation from the aggressor country in the future. Secondly, international law does not yet have an established category of «environmental terrorism» or an effective mechanism for compensation for mass environmental crimes during war, which creates serious legal loopholes. Thirdly, environmental security is increasingly being integrated into the sphere of national and international security, in particular into the activities of the European Union and NATO, which opens up new prospects for Ukraine. The problem of environmental terrorism in the context of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine is not only of theoretical but also of practical importance. Studying it allows us to understand the extent of the damage caused, identify legal mechanisms for bringing the aggressor to justice, and develop “green recovery” strategies that will form the foundation of Ukraine’s future environmentally balanced economy.