Ecology will be a cross-cutting theme essential for ensuring the well-being of Ukrainians over the next 80 years—spanning three generations. This includes both the restoration of our country’s landscapes damaged by the russian occupation and suffering the effects of military actions.
The problem of ecocide presents a range of uniquely complex restoration challenges for scientists and civil society—challenges the world has never faced before.
Ecocide refers to unlawful or reckless actions that are committed with the knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of causing serious, widespread, or long-term environmental damage.
Olha Yevstihnieieva, Advocacy Manager for European Integration Reforms, notes that it may take decades to restore land contaminated by chemicals from explosions or the burning of armored vehicles. According to the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, nearly a third of Ukraine’s land may be contaminated with ammunition and harmful substances. As a result of russia’s actions, 2.5 million hectares of Europe’s ecological network—equivalent to the area of North Macedonia—are now at risk, including 160 sites of the Emerald Network and habitats of species protected at the European level. And the area threatened continues to grow every day.
We stand at a pivotal moment in history, where addressing environmental issues is crucial to the survival of future generations. This is not only true in the global context of peace and stability, but also in terms of the long-term impact of the war on Ukrainian territories. To ensure the well-being of ourselves and our children, we must take collective responsibility for restoring the landscapes of our land.
That is why our civil society organization continues a series of publications exploring the material factors of communication that determine the dynamics of the meaning of social changes that have manifested themselves under the influence of ecocide. In this installment, we focus on the example of Kryvyi Rih, a city where the Department of Optimization of Man-Made Landscapes at the Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is working. This scientific institution can provide cutting-edge expertise on the restoration of Ukrainian biodiversity.
This conversation took place during the opening of the KONTENTA audiovisual studies project in Kryvyi Rih, as part of a podcast which is a format that the studio’s technical setup makes possible.
One of the primary tasks of the Botanical Garden is to develop and implement plant species and plant combinations that aid in the restoration of depleted industrial landscapes resulting from iron ore mining within the Kryvyi Rih basin. Tens of thousands of hectares in this region have been transformed into disrupted landscapes, including quarries, mines, and waste dumps created by deep mining operations, making natural reclamation impossible.
The development of innovations and restoration efforts in these areas primarily focus on selecting plants that can stabilize the soil and reduce dust. The global significance of the Botanical Garden and its specialists in this restoration lies in their ability to harness the restorative properties of nature in the areas where they are most needed.
The Head of the Ecology Department at the Executive Committee of the Kryvyi Rih City Council states that iron ore reserves in the Kryvyi Rih basin are expected to last for the next 80 years. This means that mining will continue, disturbing thousands of hectares of land that will require ongoing, systematic restoration. As a result, the search for restoration solutions will not only remain crucial but will also serve as a testing ground for universal approaches to addressing the consequences of ecocide in other regions.
In previous materials, we have already raised the issue of the occupied territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, emphasizing the importance of documenting these landscapes to ensure their future preservation. The possible scenarios for life in these disrupted landscapes are questions that artists and thinkers of today must address. They must take the environmental tragedy seriously and work together to find effective solutions.
As of 2023, the State Environmental Inspectorate has recorded over UAH 2 trillion in environmental damage caused by russian aggression. The issue of compensation for these damages is not only an economic concern but also a matter of securing the well-being of future generations, who have the right to a clean and safe environment—rights that are currently being forcibly taken away.
One approach to finding solutions is already being implemented in Kryvyi Rih. It involves the collaboration of the city’s scientific institutions and major industrial enterprises as part of the City Program for Solving Environmental Problems and Improving the Environment of Kryvyi Rih (2016-2025).
For example, over the past five years, semi-industrial experimental research has focused on stabilizing the surfaces of tailing piles through hydroseeding and using wastewater treatment plant sludge as soil for vegetation. These research developments offer hope for the restoration of flora in areas that were previously considered unsuitable for reclamation.
In the broader context of national initiatives, it is important to highlight the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 94/2021 from March 12, 2021, “On the National Youth Strategy until 2030,” which emphasizes the involvement of youth in addressing environmental issues. This engagement is seen as essential for ensuring youth participation in public life, enhancing their independence and competitiveness, and fostering civic competencies.
However, according to the Green Habits survey by U-Report and the UNICEF Youth Council in Ukraine, 36% of respondents believe that young people and children have insufficient opportunities to voice their opinions on environmental policy and climate action. Additionally, 30% of respondents are unaware of the climate change commitments made by the Ukrainian government.
Focusing on overcoming paternalism and empowering young people to recognize their agency is crucial for ensuring that the younger generation actively participates in shaping environmental protection programs and developing their own strategies, rather than waiting for directives from institutions. As an active social group, young people will become the key activists representing both the state and businesses in the future. They will live in the environmental conditions that we work to maintain today.
In conclusion, the key to overcoming the consequences of ecocide lies in the collaboration of all key players: the state, citizens, businesses, and international organizations. Only through active, transparent cooperation between these groups can we ensure the effective and measurable restoration of disrupted landscapes.
Yevhen Zabarylo, Anastasiya Mishustina