On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, radically disrupting economic activity, industrial operations, mobility, and everyday life. These wartime changes have also reshaped environmental conditions, including atmospheric pollution levels.
This report presents an updated satellite-based analysis of air quality in Ukraine, with a focus on tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Building on the 2023 study Air pollution in Ukraine from space: the effects of the war, the new assessment includes data from the second and third years of the invasion, offering a broader view of how air pollution patterns continue to evolve.
NO₂, mainly produced by fossil fuel combustion in transport, energy, and heavy industry, serves as a reliable indicator of changes in economic and industrial activity. The report compares pre-war NO₂ levels (2018, 2019, 2021) with concentrations observed during the first three years of the war (2022–2024).
The analysis relies entirely on publicly available satellite data, primarily from the Sentinel-5P mission. Results are presented through maps, time-series trends, and statistics for major urban areas (100,000+ population), coal power plants, and iron and steel industry sites, providing evidence-based insights into how the war is reshaping Ukraine’s environmental landscape.
Main editor: Mgr. Bc. Matúš Hrnčiar
Authors: Mgr. Jan Labohý, Marcela Černochová, Olexiy Angurets, Martin Skalský
Published: 2025
Language versions: English, Ukrainian
Photo: Majda Slámová
Graphic design: Jakub Němeček
ISBN 978-80-88508-85-4
Air Quality in Ukraine from Space: Before and During the War (2022–2024)
© World from Space 2025
© Arnika 2025
This study was developed with the financial support of the Transition Promotion Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech
Republic. The donor is not responsible for the opinions presented in this study.
