On 26 February, 2022, two days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Ukrainians flooded the plains around the Irpin River to slow down the advance of Russian troops towards Kyiv. Images of Russian tanks submerged in mud and water were seen around the world. Today, a group of scientists is proposing to restore wetlands in order to strengthen the European Union's defences.
The strategic use of peat bogs, marshes and floodplains in warfare has a long history. As early as the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dutch destroyed their dykes to repel Spanish and French invaders.
