Environmental Security: A Key Element of Ukraine’s National Policy

Feb 3, 2026 | Polina Tsybulska
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As war and climate change inflict damage on Ukraine’s environment, from polluting rivers and soils to destroying ecosystems, how could these threats be transformed into tools for resilience, diplomacy and recovery? And what could Ukraine learn from countries that have faced armed conflict, resource scarcity and extreme weather for decades? 

Imagine the clean air we breathe every day, the water in the rivers where our children swim, and the fertile soils that feed generations. Now imagine all of this suddenly becoming toxic as a result of pollution, floods or fires, caused not only by climate change but also by human activity.

Environmental security is not some abstract theory lifted from scientific journals; it is our armor. It protects us from invisible enemies: the toxins in our water, the smog over our cities, the erosion of our land, and the disasters that are becoming increasingly severe as a result of climate change. At a time when Ukraine is fighting for its survival and freedom, this armor is becoming part of the country’s national security—because without a healthy environment, there is no healthy nation.