Representatives from the United States Department of Justice's (DOJ) environmental divisions and the War Crimes Accountability Team collaborated with Ukrainian prosecutors in Poland. The group did a 24-week long training about "environmental harm" caused by the Russian invasion.
In a press release, the department explained that the Environment and Natural Resources Division and the EPA's Office of Criminal Enforcement would be leading the effort with the War Crimes Team.
The group was collecting information along with Ukrainians in order to "gather evidence of environmental harm that will allow Ukraine to prosecute potential war crimes and related law violations."
The 24-week program was made up of lectures and field exercises that focused on sampling techniques. In a picture of the representatives on the ground, three people in full-body suits and face masks are visible. One of them does not appear to be using the mask provided to him.
As part of a wider collaboration between the DOJ and the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, the detection of environmental harm is to "hold accountable perpetrators of war crimes and other atrocities committed in Ukraine" which was agreed on by Attorney General Merrick Garland and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin.
The two environmental divisions of the DOJ have requested that Ukraine receives assistance to hold Russia accountable for the environmental toll on the country.
While the Ukraine war with Russia has been ongoing, more moves to fund the effort have been taken by the Biden Administration.
A $400 million package in military aid was promised just recently. Much like the "environmental harm" training, not all favors have been strictly confined to the war. Just weeks ago, Biden also indicated that "Ukraine's future lies in NATO" and promised open-ended support.
In a speech given by Biden in Vilnius, Lithuania, Biden said, "Allies all agree to lift the requirements for the membership action plan for Ukraine and to create a path to NATO membership."
