Fifty Million Kilometers of Plastic: The Environmental Consequences of Drone Warfare in Ukraine

Written by Yuze Zhu from St. George's School, Rhode Island, USA

In 2022, the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War marked the start of a new era of warfare technology. The term “drone warfare” was suddenly seen in headlines about this conflict in publications across the world. Inexpensive small drones went from being used by civilians for taking pictures and bringing pleasure to being transformed into mass-produced killing machines. Yet new technology brings new pollution and war waste. Fiber-optic cables, used to counter electronic warfare jamming, have increasingly been found lying on battlefields. They are appearing in every corner of the natural environment, exacerbating conflict-related pollution and environmental sustainability issues. 

Photo by Julia Kochetova / The Guardian (Republished by Conflict and Environment Observatory) 

Context: Rise of Drones

Since the advent of tanks in World War I, they have been among the most dominant weapons in human history. Tanks introduced humans to the power of industrial capabilities in warfare and helped armed forces recognize the importance of vehicular mobility and armored protection. However, the usage of cheap drones in the Russian-Ukrainian war has completely dethroned tanks. The T-90M main battle tank, for example, costs $3.84 million USD to produce, which is the same cost as 3,200 heavy first-person view (FPV) drones. Basic FPV drones can cost as little as $300-400 USD. With one drone capable of destroying these costly tanks, an armored vehicle becomes an expensive metal coffin. 

The rise of drones quickly caught both sides' attention, prompting the Russian and Ukrainian governments to focus on drone manufacturing. Last year, Ukraine alone manufactured roughly 2.5 million FPV drones, with a target capacity of up to 4.5 million. Russia, which manufactures at least as many drones, will also follow in Ukraine’s footsteps to stay competitive. 

The manufacture of drones on this scale brings high demand for fiber-optic cables. Russia and Ukraine are estimated to consume 50-60 million kilometers (31-37 million miles) of fiber-optic cable annually, over 10 per cent of global production. As the stalemate between the two countries continues, demand for these combat essentials will inevitably skyrocket, creating a cycle that will worsen fiber-optic drone pollution. 

Environmental Impact 

Environmental pollution from drones, such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, continues to rise in the battlefield. In 2024 and 2025, an estimated 523 tons of PFAS-filled fluoropolymers were littered across roughly 50,000 square kilometers of the conflict zone. These forever chemicals will remain in the environment for thousands of years and pose a difficult problem to solve. 

The pollution in this conflict does not stop with PFAS. Other core pollutants, like polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), can create even more dangerous microplastics and nanoplastics. These small components contaminate soil and water, enter agricultural systems, and create a massive problem for international food supplies. As they gradually accumulate in the food chain, they can harm human health, for example by affecting the lungs and liver. 

Fiber-optic cables also negatively impact wild animals. The cables can remain on the ground after being dropped by a drone, and they can also get caught in trees and forests near battlefields. These changes threaten animal species of all kinds, as they often get tangled in the cables. The sounds of these technologically advanced drones will also startle the wildlife. For example, there have been numerous incidents of animals panicking, running away, and eventually dying due to the unknown sounds of the drones. These tragedies that arose after the Russian and Ukrainian war once again prove the danger of warfare and show civilians the widespread environmental hazards due to fiber-optic drones. 

  Source: Conflict and Environment Observatory

War Waste 

The aftermath of the war is as crucial and hazardous as any other period of the war. War waste remains a major problem across the entire area, making battlefield navigation extremely dangerous. This is where government agencies, international organizations such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and NGOs like the HALO Trust will step in to help clear the remnants of landmines and bombs. However, with the recent development of fiber-optic drones and their use in warfare, post-conflict environmental remediation efforts do not yet address fiber-optic cable pollution. The focus of these post-war organizations is still mainly on traditional war waste. Further research and protocols specifically for drone waste have yet to be developed. This enables the mass accumulation of these near-invisible fiber-optic cables, and the consequences for the ecosystem will inevitably become even more complicated going forward. 

As the war continues, the battlefield will be characterized by the use of more advanced drone technology. Fiber-optic cables will be viewed as a national resource, and both governments will devote more time and money to maximizing their advantage in this industry. This stalemate is going to make the already-destructive environmental consequences of fiber-optic cables even worse. Yet hope is not lost. Some birds have started carrying these cables up into their nests, building a home for new life from what the war left behind. What we do with these cables, and who bothers to clean them up, is really up to us. Peace isn't just the quiet after the drones stop circling overhead. It's a choice not to make our soil, our water, and the generations after us pay for this war. What war costs us reminds us how fragile peace is and how much it's worth: both peace between people and peace with the land we live on.

Artist Statement:

While most public attention focuses on the tactical shifts of drone warfare, my work discusses the destructive fiber optic cable and war waste the Ukraine war leaves behind. By first emphasizing the devastation caused by war, the theme of true peace can be effectively introduced in the next stage. 

Peace isn't just the quiet after the drones stop circling overhead. True peace requires significant work and remedies in the post-war period. The restoration of land, the cleanup of pollutants, and the elimination of fiber optic cables to protect wildlife are all necessary steps to reach full peace. Therefore, by introducing the Ukraine war from a new perspective, this submission serves as a call to action: to recognize that humanity is fragile and harmony with the ecosystem is eventually reached through peace.