Destruction of the Natural Environment Caused by the War in Ukraine: Impact on Atmosphere, Land, Water and Ecosystems
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Date
2025
Authors
Karamushka, Victor
Boychenko, Svitlana
Kozak, Olena
Khoriev, Mykhailo
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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the specific impacts of military operations on the air, land surface, water bodies, and vegetation of the affected territories. This paper describes results of the examination of affected areas after explosions of the missiles in forest zone (Moshchun and Buda-Babynetska case study) and deterioration of oil depots (Kalynivka case study). Air pollution and land clogging were observed in all cases. Polluting substances were products formed as a result of ammunition explosions and burning of target materials. Monitoring the consequences of this case showed pollution of the soil and underground water by oil derivatives. The concentration of pollutants in affected land areas sufficiently exceeded background concentrations. The migration of polluted underground water ended up loading into surface water bodies. This pollution had a detrimental effect on the riparian and aquatic vegetation of the surrounding area. In this case, air pollution was temporary and dynamic, while soil and water pollution, particularly from oil products, had long-term consequences. Physical destruction of natural and anthropogenic landscapes was registered near Buda-Babynetska and Moshchun Villages, Kyiv Region. Explosion of missiles, bombs, shells in forest and agricultural areas caused the formation of deep craters, destruction of the soil cover, flora and fauna species with long-term recovery. In addition to this impact, fires in forest ecosystems caused emissions of significant amounts of combustion products into the atmosphere and complete or partial destruction of biotopes. Paper describes the case studies of the incidents, demonstrates specifics of the assessment of different forms of environmental damage.
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Keywords
deterioration of oil depots (Kalynivka case study), deterioration of oil depots, polluting substances, explosion of missiles, conference materials
Citation
Destruction of the Natural Environment Caused by the War in Ukraine: Impact on Atmosphere, Land, Water and Ecosystems / Victor Karamushka, Svitlana Boychenko, Olena Kozak, Mykhailo Khoriev // IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. - 2025. - Vol. 1474 (1). - Art. no. 012016. - https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1474/1/012016