TECHNOGENIC-ECOLOGICAL HAZARD OF THE IMPACT OF MILITARY ACTIONS ON THE LAND COVER OF THE KHARKIV REGION - Науково-технічний журнал «Техногенно-екологічна безпека»

The main aspects of the impact of hostilities on soils, including changes in the hydrological regime, pollution and destruction of soil structure, are considered. The article highlights the environmental hazards of military operations on the territory of Ukraine, analyzes the results of laboratory studies of soil samples taken in the Kharkiv region, which were affected by military operations, namely areas with burnt military equipment or areas after bombing and artillery shelling.

It has been confirmed that military operations lead to significant chemical contamination of soils with heavy metals due to explosions, combustion of military equipment, and leaks of industrial chemicals. This contamination negatively affects ecosystems by reducing soil fertility, disrupting plant growth, and accumulating toxic substances in the food chain, which poses risks to human health. The author emphasizes the need for further research and measures to clean up and restore contaminated soils to minimize the environmental consequences of the war.

The article examines the impact of hostilities in Ukraine in the period from 2022 to 2024 on chemical contamination of soils with heavy metals. The main sources of pollution are analyzed, including the destruction of ammunition, the combustion of military equipment, and the explosions of shells and missiles. The results of studies conducted in the Kharkiv region show that the content of lead, copper, and zinc in soils significantly exceeds background levels and maximum permissible concentrations. In particular, the average lead content in the areas of hostilities is 2.8 times higher than the MPC. The concentration of zinc is three times higher than background levels and 1.2…1.4 times higher than the MPC. The average content of copper is 1.45 MPC, exceeding the MPC in 7 out of 10 sites.

The article highlights the negative impact of chemical pollution on biodiversity, plant and animal health, as well as risks to human health due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of heavy metals in the food chain. The high coefficient of variation of heavy metal content in the soil samples indicates a significant unevenness of contamination, which requires further research to develop effective measures for cleaning and restoring contaminated soils.

References

1. Krainiuk, O., Buts, Y., Ponomarenko, R., Asotskyi, V., Darmofal, E., Kalynovskyi, A., & Maniuk, V. (2025). Environmental consequences of military operations in Ukraine on the example of soil research in the Kharkiv region. Journal of Geology, Geography and Geoecology, 34(2), 304–317. DOI: 10.15421/112526.

2. Krainiuk, O., Buts, Y., Barbashyn, V., Nikitchenko, O., & Sukhov, V. (2024). Degradation of ecosystems in the Kharkiv region during the war: satellite analysis. Visnyk of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Series "Geology. Geography. Ecology", 61, 329–343. DOI: 10.26565/2410-7360-2024-61-26.

3. Bonchkovskyi, O., Ostapenko, P., Bonchkovskyi, A., & Shvaiko, V. (2025). War-induced soil disturbances in north-eastern Ukraine (Kharkiv region): Physical disturbances, soil contamination and land use change. Science of The Total Environment, 964, 178594. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178594.

4. Broomandi, P., Guney, M., Kim, J. R., & Karaca, F. (2020). Soil Contamination in Areas Impacted by Military Activities: A Critical Review. Sustainability, 12(21), 9002. DOI: 10.3390/su12219002.

5. Buts, Y., Asotskyi, V., Kraynyuk, O., Ponomarenko, R., & Kovalev, P. (2019). Dynamics of migration property of some heavy metals in soils in Kharkiv region under the influence of the pyrogenic factor. Journal of Geology, Geography and Geoecology, 28(3), 409–416. DOI: 10.15421/111938.

6. Krainiuk, O. V., Buts, Y. V., Didenko, N. V., & Barbashyn, V. V. (2023). Ecological Consequences of Environmental Pollution with Heavy Metals as a Result of the War in Ukraine. European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers. 17th International Conference Monitoring of Geological Processes and Ecological Condition of the Environment, Nov 2023, 1–5. DOI: 10.3997/2214-4609.2023520013.

7. Bai, J., & Zhao, X. (2020). Ecological and human health risks of heavy metals in shooting range soils: A meta assessment from China. Toxics, 8(2), 32. DOI: 10.3390/toxics8020032.

8. Baliuk, S. A., Kucher, A. V., Solokha, M. O., & Solovei, V. B. (2024). Assessment of the impact of armed aggression of the rf on the soil cover of Ukraine. Ukrainian Geographical Journal, 1, 7–18. DOI: 10.15407/ugz2024.01.007.

9. Buts, Y., Asotskyi, V., Kraynyuk, O., & Ponomarenko, R. (2018). Influence of technogenic loading of pyrogenic origin on the geochemical migration of heavy metal. Journal of Geology, Geography and Geoecology, 27(1), 43–50. DOI: 10.15421/111829.

10. Certini, G., Scalenghe, R., & Woods, W. (2013). The impact of warfare on the soil environment. Earth-Science Reviews, 127, 1-15. DOI: 10.1016/J.EARSCIREV.2013.08.009.

11. Datsko, O., Zakharchenko, E., Butenko, Y., Melnyk, O., Kovalenko, I., Onychko, V., Ilchenko, V., & Solokha, M. (2024). Ecological assessment of heavy metal content in Ukrainian soils. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 25(11), 100–108. DOI: 10.12911/22998993/192669.

12. Denysyk, H., Kanskyi, V., Ataman, L., Volovyk, V., & Denysyk, B. (2025). Belligerent landscape boundaries of Ukraine. Journal of Geology, Geography and Geoecology, 34(1), 32–40. DOI: 10.15421/112504.

13. Krukov, A. I., Radchenko, O. V., Radchenko, O. O., Garmash, B. K., Biletska, Ye. S., Sysoieva, S. I., Stankevych, S. V., & Vynohradenko, S. O. (2020). Experience of developed countries in environmental safety policy Ukrainian. Journal of Ecology, 10(2), 190–194. DOI: 10.15421/2020_84.

14. Petrushka, K., Malovanyy, M., Skrzypczak, D., Chojnacka, K., & Warchoł, J. (2024). Risks of Soil Pollution with Toxic Elements During Military Actions in Lviv. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 25(1), 195–208. DOI: 10.12911/22998993/175136.

15. Smirnova, K., Baliuk, S., Kucher, A., Vorotyntseva, L., & Honcharova, A. (2024). Ecological and toxicological condition of militarily degraded chernozems: A case study of the Chkalovsk territorial community. Scientific Horizons, 27(11), 90–104. DOI: 10.48077/scihor11.2024.90.

16. Yakymchuk, A., Balanda, O., & Bzowska-Bakalarz, M. (2024). Assessment of soil contamination of Ukraine with heavy metals during the war. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management, 196, 667–685. DOI: 10.29119/1641-3466.2024.196.45.