TCUP 2025 Panel 2: Ecocide and Environmental Crimes

The second panel of the 2025 TCUP conference gathered experts in policy, the humanities, and law to examine the environmental destruction caused by Russia’s invasion and the evolving legal frameworks addressing environmental crimes.

Defining Ecocide: Legal and Practical Challenges

Moderator Kristina Hook (Kennesaw State University) opened the discussion by inviting international lawyer Milena Sterio to provide background on ecocide as a legal concept and the challenges of enforcement. While ecocide is already included in Ukraine’s criminal code, the definition lacks clarity on intent, responsibility, and thresholds of damage, making it difficult to apply. However, a more specific legal definition of ecocide has been developed by an independent panel of experts convened by Stop Ecocide International:

“Unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.”

There is an ongoing campaign to add this definition as the fifth core crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. Sterio explained that while some environmental crimes can be prosecuted under existing articles of the Rome Statute, a distinct ecocide charge would enable broader accountability.

Sterio noted that any amendment to the Rome Statute will not apply retroactively, meaning that if the crime of ecocide is recognized by the ICC, it will not be possible to prosecute Russia for past environmental crimes such as the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Anna Ackermann (International Institute for Sustainable Development / EcoAction) underscored that Ukraine’s advocacy for the international recognition of ecocide is not solely about seeking justice for itself. Rather, it is a forward-looking effort to ensure that future instances of large-scale environmental devastation—whether in war or peacetime—can be prosecuted under a clear legal framework. By championing this cause, Ukraine is helping to shape international law in a way that could protect other nations from facing similar legal obstacles when seeking accountability for environmental harm.

Environmental Harm in Ukraine: Beyond Legal Definitions

Panelists Darya Tsymbalyuk (University of Chicago) and Jonathon Turnbull (University of Oxford) broadened the discussion beyond legal frameworks, focusing on the ecological, social, and cultural impacts of war-related environmental destruction.

Tsymbalyuk described the challenges of documenting environmental damage in war zones, where Ukrainian conservationists and forensic experts are tracking biodiversity loss, pollution, and long-term ecological consequences. She also discussed the broader cultural and emotional connections to the environment, highlighting that environmental destruction impacts not only ecosystems but also people’s sense of safety in the places they inhabit and their identities in connection with these places.

Turnbull introduced the concept of domicide—the systematic destruction of home and built environments—as an extension of ecocide, particularly in urbanized areas of Donbas and southern Ukraine. He questioned whether the international legal system can adequately account for both human and non-human victims. He also highlighted the deep connection that Ukrainians hold to the land and the soil. Finally, he referenced the new environmentally-focused issue of the magazine Solomiya, which was showcased at the TCUP conference.

Reparations and Holding Russia Accountable 

The panel went on to address the question of justice and reparations for Ukraine’s environmental losses. Sterio underlined the importance of efforts to document war-related environmental crimes through the International Registry of Damage and the newly established International Compensation Mechanism. She cited the Ukrainian government’s estimate that the country’s environment has sustained over $60 billion in damage as of August 2024, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger legal mechanisms to secure compensation. She pointed to significant momentum behind international efforts to use frozen Russian assets for reparations, with Ukraine and its allies actively working to establish legal frameworks to redirect these funds toward reconstruction efforts.

Green Reconstruction

The panel discussed alternative visions for Ukraine’s post-war environmental recovery, emphasizing that reconstruction must not simply restore old infrastructure but rethink Ukraine’s ecological and economic future. Tsymbalyuk lamented that, like gender, environmental issues are often marginalized and underfunded. She warned that unchecked industry and agriculture could resume destructive practices, and highlighted that Ukraine lacks the financial capacity to ensure green reconstruction without serious international support.

Panelists cautioned against romanticizing nature’s ‘return’ in war-affected areas, stressing that conservation efforts must balance ecological concerns with the needs of displaced and returning populations. Turnbull explained the concept of ‘war-wilding’, which proposes leaving the most heavily damaged areas untouched to allow for natural regeneration, much like the unexpected ecological shifts observed in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. While this strategy could align with the EU’s 30 by 30 initiative, which seeks to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, Turnbull warned that conservation efforts should not come at the expense of societal needs, citing cases in Africa where conservation policies had disastrous consequences for local communities.

Ackermann refocused the discussion on the colossal human and environmental suffering Russia has inflicted on Ukraine, chronicling the annihilation of towns in the east, where the level of devastation is beyond justice. Turnbull reiterated that the most immediate priority for protecting Ukraine’s environment is military assistance, ensuring Ukraine's victory against Russia.

WATCH NOW: TCUP 2025 Panel 2 — English

WATCH NOW: TCUP 2025 Panel 2 — Ukrainian