Law. Human. Environment

Environmental safety and its legal support in Ukraine

Serhii Lisovskyi, Liudmyla Golovko
Download article
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse Ukrainian legislation in the field of environmental protection and to identify the most effective legal acts related to ensuring this protection. Specifically, considering the analysis of the state of Ukraine’s environment since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian armed forces. For an effective study of the topic, it was necessary to employ the historical and terminological methods. The study covered the essence of environmental security, its concept, content, and features, as well as the role of environmental security in the legal support of environmental protection in Ukraine. By defining the concept of environmental safety, the study identified the factors which influence its provision (specifically, environmental disasters caused by anthropogenic factors), and proved the significance and necessity of establishing effective legal regulation of this issue. The study analysed the legislation in the field of the natural environment and its security, particularly, the most significant legal documents. The impact of military operations (including the effects of military equipment, weapons, and chemicals they release) on the legal regulation of environmental protection was also determined. The study provided a legal definition of the concept of environmental safety and its features and demonstrated the factors that affect the safety of the natural environment. Specifically, the study analysed legal regulation in the field of environmental safety. The analysis of key legal documents in this area helped to identify a list of tasks that will help to improve the environmental situation in Ukraine. Thus, this study showed the state of legal support for environmental safety in Ukraine as of 2024 and will help in further reforming environmental policy

Keywords

environment; legislation; regulation; military action; full-scale invasion

Suggested citation
Lisovskyi, S., & Golovko, L. (2025). Environmental safety and its legal support in Ukraine. Law. Human. Environment, 16(1), 33-50. https://doi.org/10.31548/law/1.2025.33
References

[1] Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I). (1977, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_199#Text.

[2] Albakjaji, M. (2022). The responsibility for environmental damages during armed conflicts: The case of the war between russia and Ukraine. Access to Justice in Eastern Europe, 4(17), 82-101.

[3] Anderson, B. (2025). What is environmental safety? Retrieved from https://www.andersoneng.com/what-is-environmental-safety/#:~:text=Environmental%20safety%20is%20defined%20by,the%20prevention%20of%20accidental%20environmental.

[4] Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. (1989, March). Retrieved from https://www.basel.int/Portals/4/Basel%20Convention/docs/text/BaselConventionText-e.pdf.

[5] Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes. (1989, March). Retrieved from https://www.basel.int/TheConvention/Overview/tabid/1271/Default.aspx.

[6] Capptions. (n.d.). EHS (environment, health and safety) definition. Retrieved from https://www.capptions.com/blog/ehs-definition.

[7] Carius, A., Baechler, G., Pfahl, S., & March, A. (1999). Environment and safety: Research needs and research priorities. Berlin: Centre for International and European Environmental Research.

[8] Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. (2012, October). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:12012E/TXT.

[9] Constitution of Ukraine. (1996, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254к/96-вр#Text.

[10] Convention on Biological Diversity. (1992, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_030#Text.

[11] Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD). (1976, December). Retrieved from https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/assets/treaties/460-IHL-70-EN.pdf.

[12] Coronado, C.R., de Carvalho Jr., J.D., Yoshioka, J.T., & Silveira, J.L. (2009). Determination of ecological efficiency in internal combustion engines: The use of biodiesel. Applied Thermal Engineering, 29(10), 1887-1892. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2008.10.012.

[13] Criminal Code of Ukraine. (2001, April). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2341-14#Text.

[14] Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2022/591 “On a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030”. (2022, April). Retrieved from https://wecoop.eu/regional-knowledge-centre/eu-policies-regulations/.

[15] Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2004/35/EC “On Environmental Liability with Regard to the Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage”. (2004, April). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/994_965#Text.

[16] Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2024/1203 “On the Protection of the Environment Through Criminal Law and Replacing Directives 2008/99/EC and 2009/123/EC”. (2024, April). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401203.

[17] Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2024/1203 “On the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law and Replacing Directives 2008/99/EC and 2009/123/ EC”. (2024, April). Retrieved from https://environment.ec.europa.eu/law-and-governance/environmental-compliance-assurance/environmental-crime-directive_en.

[18] Environment policy: General principles and basic framework. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/71/environment-policy-general-principles-and-basic-framework.

[19] Etichia, M. et al. (2024). Energy trade tempers Nile water conflict. Nature Water, 2(4), article number 337. doi: 10.1038/s44221-024-00222-9.

[20] Ewim, D.R.E., Orikpete, O.F., Scott, T.O., Onyebuchi, C.N., Onukogu, A.O., Uzougbo, C.G. & Onunka, C. (2023). Survey of wastewater issues due to oil spills and pollution in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria: A secondary data analysis. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 47(1), article number116. doi: 10.1186/s42269-023-01090-1.

[21] From ENMOD to geoengineering: The environment as a weapon of war – CEOBS. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ceobs.org/from-enmod-to-geoengineering-the-environment-as-a-weapon-of-war/.

[22] Hryhorczuk, D., Levy, B.S., Prodanchuk, M., Kravchuk, O., Bubalo, N., Hryhorczuk, A., & Erickson, T.B. (2024). The environmental health impacts of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 19(1), article number 1. doi: 10.1186/s12995-023-00398-y.

[23] Human health and the natural environment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://surl.li/xmwuzw.

[24] Ikhumetse, A., Abioye, O.P., Ijah, U.J.J., & Bankole, M.T. (2022). A critical review of oil spills in the Niger Delta aquatic environment: Causes, impacts, and bioremediation assessment. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194, article number 816. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-10424-x.

[25] International Renaissance Foundation. (2024). Climate damage caused by the Russian war in Ukraine over 24 months: Research by Initiative on Greenhouse Gas Accounting of War. Retrieved from https://www.irf.ua/en/publication/klimatychni-zbytky-zavdani-rosijskoyu-vijnoyu-v-ukrayini-za-24-misyaczi-doslidzhennya-ekodiyi/.

[26] Kasyanchuk, N., & Kostenko, A. (2024). Biodiversity under siege: The environmental cost of russian war in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://euneighbourseast.eu/young-european-ambassadors/blog/biodiversity-under-siege-the-environmental-cost-of-russian-war-in-ukraine/.

[27] Kenig-Witkowska, M.M. (2019). Protection of the environment in times of non-international armed conflicts – a gap to be filled in. Studia Iuridica, 78, 184-198.

[28] Kornieiev, Y. (2021). The concept and legal regulation of environmental safety in Ukraine. International Humanitarian University Herald. Jurisprudence, 49, 122-125. doi: 10.32841/2307-1745.2021.49.26.

[29] Kozmuliak, K. (2022). Legal regulation of environmental protection during armed conflicts on the example of Ukraine. Uzhhorod National University Herald. Series: Law, 1(73), 174-180. doi: 10.24144/2307-3322.2022.73.28.

[30] Ladychenko, V., Yara, O., Uliutina, O., & Golovko, L. (2019). Environmental liability in ukraine and the EU. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 8(2), 261-267. doi: 10.14207/ejsd.2019.v8n2p261.

[31] Law of Ukraine No. 1264-XII “On Environmental Protection”. (1991, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1264-12#Text.

[32] Law of Ukraine No. 2469-VIII “On National Security of Ukraine”. (2018, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2469-19#Text.

[33] Law of Ukraine No. 2697-VIII “On the Basic Principles (Strategy) of the State Environmental Policy of Ukraine until 2030”. (2019, February). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/ show/2697-19#Text.

[34] Leal Filho, W., Pires Eustachio, J.H.P., Fedoruk, M., & Lisovska, T. (2024). War in Ukraine: An overview of environmental impacts and consequences for human health. Frontiers in Sustainable Resource Management, 3, article number 1423444. doi: 10.3389/fsrma.2024.1423444.

[35] Makarenko, N.A., & Makarenko, O.Y. (2024). Legal ensuring environmental safety under martial law. Uzhhorod National University Herald. Series: Law, 2(82), 201-209. doi: 10.24144/2307-3322.2024.82.2.32.

[36] Meaza, H. et al. (2024). Managing the environmental impacts of war: What can be learned from conflict-vulnerable communities? Science of the Total Environment, 927, article number 171974. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171974.

[37] Mutuma, K.W. (2021). The protection of the environment during armed conflict. Journalofcmsd, 7(1), 54-84.

[38] Ovchinnikov, A. (2024). Environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine: July 2024 review. Retrieved from https://surl.li/bybtws.

[39] Rebhi, T., & Bouderbala, I. (2023). International legislation for environmental protection. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369305086_International_legislation_for_environmental_protection.

[40] Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. (1998, July). Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/rome-statute-international-criminal-court.

[41] State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine. (2024). Current information on environmental damage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Retrieved from https://www.dei.gov.ua/post/2965.

[42] Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. (2001, May). Retrieved from https://www.pops.int/TheConvention/Overview/TextoftheConvention/tabid/2232/Default.aspx.

[43] The European Green Deal. (2019, December). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2019:640:FIN.

[44] The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. (1987, September). Retrieved from https://ozone.unep.org/treaties/montreal-protocol/montreal-protocol-substances-deplete-ozone-layer.

[45] UNFCCC. (2022). Conflict and climate. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/news/conflict-and-climate.

[46] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (1992, May). Retrieved from https://treaties.un.org/doc/source/recenttexts/unfccc_eng.pdf.

[47] van Jaarsveld Bronkhorst, S., & Bob, U. (2010). Environmental conflicts: Key issues and management implications. Retrieved from https://www.accord.org.za/ajcr-issues/environmental-conflicts/.

[48] van Steenberghe, R. (2023). International environmental law as a means for enhancing the protection of the environment in warfare: A critical assessment of scholarly theoretical frameworks. Retrieved from https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/international-environmental-law-protection-of-the-environment-924.

[49] What is the UN framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC)? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/what-is-the-un-framework-convention-on-climate-change-unfccc/.

[50] Zarei, S., & Mosavi Madani, N. (2020). International cooperation for environmental protection in the 21st century. CIFILE Journal of International Law, 1. doi: 10.30489/CIFJ.2020.210212.1010.