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The story of Olena Kravchenko, a Ukrainian environmentalist. She is the Executive Director of Environmental People's Law (EPL), an organization dedicated to the protection of the natural environment in Ukraine.
Olena Kravchenko is the Executive Director of the Ukrainian organization Environmental People's Law (EPL), whose mission is to protect Ukraine's natural environment from the devastating effects of the war with Russia. She and her team of lawyers and scientists are working tirelessly to assess the damage, develop a restoration plan, and hold Russia accountable for its environmental crimes.
Kravchenko's journey began on October 20, when she was collecting soil samples with a team of environmental scientists in Kamianska Sich National Nature Park in southern Ukraine. Suddenly, they noticed a Russian drone hovering over their group. Fearing for their safety, they decided to finish collecting samples as soon as possible. A few minutes later, they heard a bomb explode nearby.
"We were warned and then we were bombed," Kravchenko recalled. We jumped in the car and drove to a nearby farmland, and we survived."
The experience left a deep impact on Kravchenko, who said nature is the "silent victim" of war. Nature is the "silent victim" of war, she said, and "we must be its voice."
EPL worked closely with the Eugene nonprofit Environmental Law Alliance (ELAW) to develop a plan to restore war-damaged wildlands and forests. ELAW provides EPL with financial support and access to scientists and researchers.
ELAW's research found that 30% of Ukraine's land was contaminated with toxic chemicals from bombs. This includes bombed-out pesticide storage depots, which release harmful substances into the soil. While some of the contaminated soil can be cleaned up with appropriate technology, a significant amount of soil is permanently damaged.
Another major challenge is the landmines that litter Ukraine's land. Kravchenko estimated that demining would take 30 to 50 years to complete, while demining in Albania was completed after 20 years.
Ukraine's natural environment has been damaged and it is estimated that billions of dollars will be needed to restore it. Kravchenko is working to strengthen Ukraine's environmental legislation and hold environmental offenders accountable. She would like to see Ukraine charge Russia with "ecocide," the intentional mass destruction of the environment.
However, Ukraine has not yet ratified the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court. Therefore, it is difficult to hold Russia accountable for ecocide under international law.
Kravchenko recently traveled to Brussels and Berlin to meet with European Commission officials to discuss Ukraine's green recovery program. She is working to find ways to support the Ukrainian government in developing and implementing the program.
Kravchenko's work is critical to protecting Ukraine's natural environment from the devastating effects of war. Her dedication and determination are an inspiration to all those who want a better future for Ukraine.
