Russia’s violent appropriation of Ukrainian territory and associated resources from 2014 onwards, have dovetailed with its wider agenda of strengthening and weaponizing the state’s economic levers both at home and abroad. If this behavior was in deviation from the then largely rules-based and multilaterally governed global economic order, Russia now finds itself among ideologically-aligned peers. The foreign economic policies of the US, and to a lesser extent China, are now also defined at least in part by resource mercantilism, with attendant implications for resource-rich developing countries and middle powers. This paper overviews recent developments as they relate to the Russian war in Ukraine, examining the natural resources and value chains at stake for Ukraine: specifically oil and gas, food and agriculture, and critical minerals, and the geoeconomic calculus for Russia—as well as other global players—in each of these sectors. It discusses how competing actor interests in each of these sectors may affect the economic and political sovereignty of Ukraine, and how these affect the prospects (or lack thereof) of sustainable development, recovery, and durable peace. Finally, it relates the war in Ukraine to the wider global trend of resource mercantilism, and suggests lessons for other resource-rich developing countries and middle powers in similar straits.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the environmental and climate agenda in Russia experienced a number of corrections, but didn't disappear. On the global level, Russia is attempting to build up non-Western coalitions, promote nuclear and natural gas as low-carbon solutions, and oppose "forced shocking decarbonisation" or any mention of fossil fuels in conference final decisions, while also emphasising the role of Russian boreal forests in the global climate. Within the country, legislation regarding nature-protected zones is being weakened, while more pro-governmental environmental movements and NGOs are emerging. At the same time, environmental protests are still taking place in many regions across the country, even at times of ever-further shrinking civic space and increasing political repressions.

Small agricultural communities in rural Ukraine have had to reorganize food production under conditions of land contamination, labour shortages, disrupted supply chains, psychological stress and the arrival of internally displaced persons (IDPs) during Russia’s full-scale invasion. This research examined how these communities continued farming under wartime constraints and how everyday agricultural practices changed in response. Empirical data were collected through surveys with displaced residents, local farmers, and community leaders, complemented by case studies of organic and conventional farms and mapping of community and small-scale farming initiatives. The findings show that wartime conditions forced communities to rely on low-input and adaptive agricultural strategies. Practices such as composting, organic cultivation, water-saving irrigation, and shared use of tools and labour allowed farming to continue on limited or partially degraded land while reducing dependence on external inputs. Agricultural cooperation also had clear social effects. Joint farming activities created practical spaces of interaction between host communities and displaced people, supported informal knowledge exchange, and helped stabilise everyday life in villages affected by displacement. For many displaced residents, participation in agricultural work provided routine, social connection, and a sense of usefulness in an uncertain environment. The findings draw on results within the CARES research project (Community agriculture for resilience, empowerment, and sustainability, funded by Czech Development Cooperation through Ministry of Affairs) and highlight how community-led agriculture functioned during the war as a combined response to food insecurity, environmental stress, and social disruption.

Environmental safety in livestock production is a crucial stage in the transition to sustainable development of the agricultural sector. Since demand for livestock products remains constant even under martial law in Ukraine it is essential to ensure their production with minimal negative impact on the natural environment. The relevance of this work is driven by Ukraine’s accession in 2012 to the UNIDO “Green Platform” and by the need for research that takes into account environmental, economic, and social challenges that will shape the development of global science up to 2050. To ensure Ukraine’s food security under the conditions of a full-scale war, it is necessary not only to increase livestock production but also to do so using environmentally safe methods. Intensification of production inevitably leads to the generation of large amounts of waste, by-products, and wastewater. Taking into account the key principles of the circular economy and regenerative agriculture, these categories should be redefined as “organic raw materials” for further processing. Research in this field is important because it directly contributes to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) by promoting sustainable agriculture through the reuse of organic residues as biofertilizers; Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by reducing the risk of water pollution from agricultural waste. In addition, the project aligns with Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting the conversion of waste into useful products; Goal 13 (Climate Action) through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and Goal 15 (Life on Land) by improving soil quality and supporting biodiversity. Thus, the research facilitates the transition to a circular and climate-neutral bioeconomy and is highly relevant, as it contributes to Ukraine’s post-war environmental recovery and integration into the European Green Deal. This will help prevent the depletion of natural resources and ensure sustainable access to products for future generations. Currently, Ukraine is facing profound environmental and energy challenges exacerbated by the consequences of the war. Large volumes of organic residues from agriculture, the food industry, and livestock farming are often managed inefficiently, leading to pollution of water, soils, and air, loss of nutrients, and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, these wastes represent a valuable feedstock for the production of biogas, biofertilizers, biopreparations, and organo-mineral products that can replace conventional resources. The aim of the research is to develop scientifically grounded solutions for the environmentally safe processing of organic residues of animal and plant origin in order to obtain secondary resources and reduce negative environmental impacts.