The armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has caused large-scale environmental consequences, including air, water, and soil pollution, as well as the destruction of nature protection zones and forests. The purpose of this study was to analyse international legal and national mechanisms for overcoming the environmental consequences of war and to assess their effectiveness in the context of armed conflict. The study employed a comparative analysis of international legal acts, statistical methods for processing environmental pollution data, and a case study method to compare the effects of war in other countries. This study examined the impact of hostilities on Ukraine’s ecosystems, including air, water, and soil pollution. The following features were identified: air pollution levels in the regions where industrial enterprises were destroyed far exceed the permissible environmental standards. Leaks of oil products and chemicals, specifically, have led to long-term adverse effects on soil and water resources. The destruction of industrial facilities such as oil refineries and chemical plants was found to cause not only immediate emissions of toxic substances, but also long-term environmental threats that can affect regional ecosystems for decades. In addition, water pollution has reached a critical level, which poses a threat to public health and biodiversity. The study analysed the international legal mechanisms that have proved to be ineffective in addressing the problem of environmental crimes during military conflicts. The study found that international instruments for prosecuting environmental crimes need to be improved, particularly to ensure proper accountability for ecocide. The study revealed the need for new international initiatives aimed at developing effective legal instruments for environmental protection during conflicts. It was concluded that the international community is actively involved in the development of strategies to restore damaged ecosystems. The practical value of this study lies in providing recommendations for international organisations and governments to improve legal mechanisms for prosecuting environmental crimes and developing long- term strategies for restoring damaged ecosystems
environmental consequences of war; international law; air pollution; ecosystem restoration; environmental crimes; legal mechanisms; environmental sustainability
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