Refugees for a Cause: Russian Environmentalists in Exile Confronting War and Ecological Harm

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many Russian environmental professionals with antiwar stances sought exile in Europe. This paper examines their pathways in exile and their roles in addressing both war-related environmental problems and antiwar activism.

Between 2022 and 2024, research was conducted through participant observations and 58 qualitative biographical interviews across six countries: Finland (N=7), Germany (N=11), France (N=7), the UK (N=11), Serbia (N=9), and Montenegro (N=19). The findings reveal that Germany emerged as a key hub for exiled activists, many of whom faced the risk of arrest in Russia. Several now collaborate on transnational environmental and antiwar projects, often in partnership with German NGOs. For example, a Russian climate expert coordinates projects with a Berlin-based transnational journalism network and contributes to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group (UWEC), which assesses the environmental impacts of the war, such as the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

Eco-Defense members, now scattered across EU countries, are involved in antiwar efforts by leveraging their expertise on supply chains to help identify violations of EU trade sanctions. Their work in collaboration with German NGOs has been instrumental in sharing information with the European Parliament.

France has become a sanctuary for Russian activists at risk. The humanitarian visa program offers a vital lifeline, and exiled environmentalists have found supportive networks within the Russian anti-Putin diaspora. Several continue to combine environmental work with antiwar and human rights activism. Notable figures include a former Ozersk NGO leader now advocating for Ukraine on French TV and a prominent human rights expert who founded the Sakharov Institute in Paris to support at-risk activists.

This paper highlights the resilience and adaptability of Russian environmentalists in exile, showing how they continue to advocate for both ecological and human rights causes amid war.