The Women Documenting Russia’s Eco-Crimes
In June of 2023, Russian bombardment destroyed the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine—the largest environmental catastrophe in Ukraine since Chernobyl. The effects have wiped out neighborhoods, brought explosives to shore, and caused spreads of bacteria, waste, and disease. The women leading Let’s Do It Ukraine, the country’s largest environmental justice organization, have been fighting for these stories to be heard. Iulia Markhel leads 24-hour missions to collect water samples from the sources most impacted by the toxins and waste. Markhel and the organization’s volunteers risk their lives to document the ecocide and share this information. They pay for the missions themselves and have assisted with evacuations when they can but Russian shelling and landmines have limited their ability to help. Despite the threat, Let’s Do It members continue to put their lives at stake to inform the public of the threats from the explosion, including vital information on water quality, oxygen, and ecosystem services, with the hope of a safer environmental future.
