Nature in Danger: International Webinar to Address Ukraine's Environmental Crisis
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 1:30–3:30 PM EST | Live Online Broadcast
The scale of environmental destruction caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is staggering — and largely underreported.
Around 30% of Ukraine's territory is now contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance.
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam released more than 150 tons of machine oil into the Dnipro River, carrying pollutants downstream into the Black Sea. Some 600 animal species — along with 750 plant and fungi species — are now endangered, many already on Red Lists and at risk of extinction.
This Sunday, in observance of Earth Month, Ukrainian Jersey City (UJC) — a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization — in partnership with Penn State University, will host a critical installment of its Nature in Danger project: an international webinar examining the escalating ecological crisis and its consequences far beyond Ukraine's borders.
Organized by Oksana Condon, Roksolana Karmazyn, and Calvin L. Norman, the event brings together leading scholars, researchers, and cultural voices from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Panel
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Catherine Wanner of Penn State University and will feature:
Calvin Norman — Penn State University
Serhiy Shevchenko — Lviv Polytechnic National University
Roman Kowal — Truth Hounds, Kyiv
Brian Roth — Forest Release, Kyiv
Olia Hercules — award-winning chef and author, London
The program will include expert discussion, audience Q&A, and a closing segment featuring a poetry reading and video presentation — emphasizing both the human and environmental cost of the war.
Why It Matters
Russia's invasion has turned large parts of Ukraine into one of the most heavily polluted, mined, and damaged environments on Earth. The consequences are not contained within Ukraine's borders. They directly threaten global food systems, accelerate biodiversity loss, and weaken climate resilience worldwide.
These impacts will be felt for generations. The urgency to respond, restore, and document the damage continues to grow.
Supporting the Front Lines
Proceeds from the event will go directly to four organizations working on environmental protection and accountability in Ukraine:
Ecofortress 2.0 — ecological resilience and restoration
UAnimals — animal rights, rescue, and advocacy
Forest Release — reforestation and ecosystem recovery
Truth Hounds — documenting war crimes, including environmental destruction
Join the Conversation
📅 Sunday, April 26, 2026
🕐 1:30–3:30 PM EST
💻 Live online broadcast
🎟️ Register here
📖 More information
For press inquiries, contact Anastasiya Shemuda at anastasiya.shemuda@ukrainianjc.com
On behalf of Ukrainian Jersey City — ukrainianjc.com