Birds in fibre-optic cable: ONUKA and UAnimals have created a video to tell the world about the destruction of Ukraine’s natural environment
In the project, clay birds that whistle vividly demonstrate how the Russian war is ravaging Ukraine’s wilderness.
Birds in fibre-optic cable: ONUKA and UAnimals have created a project about Russia’s ecocide against Ukraine
The animal welfare organisation UAnimals has launched an art and advocacy project designed to draw the world’s attention to Russia’s environmental crimes in Ukraine. Activists have created traditional clay whistles in the shape of birds sitting in nests woven from real optical fibre.
These symbolic artefacts have been presented as gifts to foreign diplomats, politicians and environmental activists at the major international climate conferences COP. Through them, the organisation aims to convey to the international community how Russian aggression is killing animals and destroying ecosystems, and to call for the aggressor to be brought to justice.
For the project’s promotional video, cultural figure and frontwoman of the band ONUKA, Nataliia Zhizhchenko, played a melody on a clay whistle, inspired by the calls of Ukrainian steppe birds, which are now disappearing due to the hostilities.
The voice of nature, suffering from the war
In this project, clay birds that whistle vividly illustrate how the Russian war is devastating Ukraine’s wildlife: in real life, birds are already using the remnants of fibre-optic cables from enemy drones to build their nests. Due to shelling, fires and the occupation, birds and other wild animals are losing their natural habitats, sustaining injuries and dying in large numbers.
UAnimals emphasises that the live sound of the whistling bird is intended to remind international partners exactly what Ukraine is fighting for and what we are striving to save.
‘In the fifth year of the war, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the world’s attention focused on what Russia is doing to Ukraine’s environment. Meanwhile, the damage is mounting, and some of it is irreversible. It takes years to secure accountability for these crimes. That is why, alongside conference presentations and advocacy projects, we are looking for creative ways to raise awareness of this important issue,” — note UAnimals.
The Stop Ecocide Ukraine campaign and the extent of the damage
The ‘whistling birds’ initiative has become part of the international campaign Stop Ecocide Ukraine, which UAnimals launched following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station by Russian troops. The organisation is systematically campaigning for ecocide to be recognised as a serious international crime, for those responsible to be held to account, and for reparations to be paid for the damage caused to the environment.
According to official figures from the relevant ministry, the scale of the environmental disaster in Ukraine is staggering:
Around 3 million hectares of forest have been affected by the Russian aggression;
20 per cent of Ukraine’s protected areas are at risk of complete destruction;
Around 600 species of animals are on the brink of extinction due to hostilities, occupation and the destruction of ecosystems.
However, the full extent of the environmental damage in the temporarily occupied territories remains unknown due to the lack of access for scientists and environmentalists.
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