War-Driven Forest Fires Ravage Ukraine’s Woodlands, Exceeding UAH 1 Trillion in Damage

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022, approximately 165,000 hectares of Ukrainian forest have burned, primarily due to Russian shelling, artillery and drone strikes, and some to careless civilian fire handling. State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine reports fire-related losses have surpassed UAH 1 trillion, and a single week (15-22 May 2026) added UAH 36.7 billion to the tally.

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

Environmental inspectors recorded 22 separate fires covering 28.6 hectares in the most recent week; 14 were caused directly by Russian strikes, seven by enemy drones, and the remainder by civilian mishandling. A 5,800-hectare blaze persisted in Pereliub forestry, while the State Environmental Inspectorate estimates total war-driven environmental damage at roughly UAH 6.9 trillion.

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

Foresters and emergency rescuers operate amid dense smoke, live mines and unexploded ordnance. In the Izium forestry, crews extinguished fires larger than 20 hectares while navigating explosive hazards, underscoring the compounded risk of combat and fire suppression.

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

Forests of Ukraine reported that firefighting operations were hindered by explosive objects left on the ground. The Ukrainian government introduced a zero-quota licensing regime that bans the export of unprocessed timber and fuelwood until the end of 2026, directing material to domestic processors and heating. The agency also clarified that the Mount Pikuy fire originated on land managed by Boykivshchyna National Nature Park, outside its forest fund. State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine noted that the most intense fire activity in the recent week occurred in the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions.

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

Analysts note that the forest estate was already under severe pressure before the war, with logging volumes sharply reduced and export revenues of over US$2 billion in 2021 now constrained by the zero-quota policy. The need for extensive de-mining, replanting and long-term investment is amplified by the ongoing conflict, raising doubts about the feasibility of timely restoration.

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

While all sources agree that forest-fire damage exceeds UAH 1 trillion and that 165,000 hectares have burned, the precise composition of the reported UAH 6.9 trillion total environmental loss remains unclear, as does the long-term ecological impact of the burned areas.

In Ukraine, damages from forest fires since the start of the full-scale war have exceeded UAH 1 trillion

• “Extinguishing was complicated by the presence of explosive objects,” — Forests of Ukraine

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

• “Kyiv has since extended a zero-quota licensing regime barring exports of unprocessed timber and fuelwood through the end of 2026, a measure designed to steer scarce raw material toward domestic processors and rural heating supply.” — Kyiv

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

• “6 hectares over the most recent week, 14 of them caused directly by Russian strikes and a further seven sparked by enemy drone attacks in the Chernihiv region.” — Forests of Ukraine

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

• “The highest concentration of fires last week struck the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, where foresters and emergency rescuers fought blazes that combat conditions made far harder to reach.” — State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests

Ukraine plans extensive de-mining, replanting and forest-restoration programs, while aligning timber processing with the EU Deforestation Regulation. The zero-quota export ban remains in force through 2026, and domestic logging is being expanded to meet heating needs despite the uncertain timeline of the conflict.

War Has Destroyed 165,000 Hectares of Ukraine’s Forests