Long-term Impacts of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on the Black Sea in 2022-2024 on Maritime Environmental Change: An Ecological Analysis

Abstract

The Black Sea conflict is a geopolitical and military conflict that is still ongoing today. It involves strategic rivalries between Russia, Ukraine, and some NATO countries (especially after Russia invaded Ukraine again in 2022). This research was conducted to analyze the long-term impacts on the Black Sea ecosystem itself arising from the conflict. Using a literature review as well as analyzing secondary data from environmental reports and academic literature, this research revealed that prolonged conflict can also accelerate the degradation of marine ecosystems. Military activities such as underwater exploitation, combat ship movements, and airstrikes have caused negative impacts in the form of marine pollution, damage to coral ecosystems, and a decline in the number of marine species in the region. In addition, unstable geopolitical conditions have worsened the collective marine resource management system among countries bordering the Black Sea, which in turn hinders transboundary conservation measures. The research concludes that conflicts in the Black Sea region not only affect the security sector and political dynamics, but also bring serious threats to ecosystems that have the potential to damage environmental balance at the regional level. Thus, this research encourages the importance of implementing environment-based diplomacy and strengthening cooperation between countries in the marine sector as a strategic effort to reduce the long-term damage caused by ongoing conflicts.