Themes by tag: ecology

On April 25, the eve of the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, the European Institute of Chornobyl will once again convene leading Ukrainian scientists, experts, researchers, and liquidators for CHORNOBYL FORUM 2025. Now in its third edition, the international forum aims to reframe Chornobyl not only as a historical tragedy but also as a pressing contemporary challenge. The event will be held in Kyiv.

In parallel, an exhibition marking the anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy will run in the capital from April 23 to 27. The showcase will feature works by both Ukrainian and international artists, examining the complex relationship between humanity, nature, and technology. Visitors will also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the experience through VR headsets, offering a deeper emotional and sensory connection to a history that continues to shape the present.

Key themes of the forum include the current state of the Exclusion Zone, emerging threats posed by war, ecocide as a weapon of conflict, and strategies for recovery and safeguarding the future.

Among the forum’s featured speakers are Andrii Mizko and Ihor Pysmennyi, Mi-6 helicopter pilots and among the first liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster. In May 1986, they flew missions over the destroyed reactor, dropping lead cargo from an altitude of just 200 meters under extremely hazardous conditions. Today, both men remain active in advocating for liquidators’ rights through public initiatives.

Advance registration is required to attend the event.

• ecology
• Kyiv

On March 24, state inspectors examined the coastline near the 16th station of the Big Fountain (Velykoho Fontanu) in Odesa. They discovered areas of pollution in the form of lumps of fuel oil ranging from 2 to 15 cm in size. The oil slicks stretched for approximately 500 meters and in some places formed dense accumulations.

To ensure a rapid response, environmental specialists collected seawater samples for petroleum product analysis at the inspection laboratory. In addition, samples of the contaminant mixed with sand were sent to the Ukrainian Scientific Center of Marine Ecology for detailed laboratory research.

The pollution is likely to be the result of a large-scale environmental disaster caused by the sinking of the russian oil tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 in the Kerch Strait on December 15, 2024. At that time, over 4,000 tons of fuel oil spilled into the Black Sea, causing an estimated $14 billion in damage – the largest accident of its kind in the history of the Black Sea.

Earlier, similar fuel oil spills were recorded on the coast of the Lyman community, where more than 400 kg of petroleum products were collected, and in the village of Fontanka near Odesa.

Yulia Markhel, head of Let’s Do It Ukraine, commented: “This environmental disaster caused by russian tankers has already reached the Ukrainian coast. The pollution of our sea is a direct threat to the ecosystem, public health and tourism potential of the region”.

Journalists can interview representatives of Let’s Do It Ukraine (the largest youth eco-movement in Ukraine) in Kyiv, as well as environmental experts in Odesa, by prior arrangement.

• ecology
• Kyiv
• Odesa

Fuel oil spilled into the Black Sea after the accident of russian tankers in the Kerch Strait has been detected on the shores of the Odesa oblast.

According to Dr. Ivan Rusiev, Doctor of Biological Sciences and Head of the Research Department of Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park, the fuel oil was washed onto the sandy spit in the Katranka recreational area, near the Danube Biosphere Reserve and Tuzly Lagoons National Park, after recent storms.

Dr. Rusiev believes that this incident will cause significant damage to the natural ecosystems of the Black Sea. He also noted that the Tuzly Lagoons National Park team is surveying various sections of the spit and will provide updates on the extent of the pollution later.

Those interested in speaking with Ivan Rusiev can arrange online or in-person interviews by prior arrangement..

Background: On December 15, 2024, two russian tankers were damaged near the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea. According to media reports, the tankers were carrying approximately 4,300 tons of fuel oil.

• ecology
• russian crimes
• Odesa

Before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, environmentalist and scientist Vladyslav Mykhailenko was dedicated to teaching at a university. But after February 2022, he felt his academic work no longer met the urgency of the moment. Determined to contribute to the war effort, Mykhailenko sought ways to merge his expertise in ecology with the needs of the Ukrainian military. The result was the creation of the Plastic Saves Lives initiative.

The project focuses on collecting plastic bottle caps. Vladyslav rallied a team of volunteers to sort through the donations, ensuring only plastic that could be sold for recycling made the cut. The funds raised are then directed toward purchasing essential equipment for Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

The math is staggering: it takes 1.5 tons of plastic caps to fund a single FPV drone. Yet, the impact has been remarkable. Since its inception, Vladyslav Mykhailenko and his team have purchased a range of equipment, including an ambulance, two Mavic 3T drones, and three FPV drones, among other critical supplies.

The initiative invites everyone to participate. Individuals can drop off caps in Odesa or ship them to the volunteers via mail. 

For those who wish to connect with Vladyslav Mykhailenko, appointments can be arranged for online or in-person meetings. 

• ecology
• volunteers
• Kyiv
• Odesa

In Kyiv Oblast, a new eco-friendly recycling line has been set up in Borodianka to process construction waste, utilizing equipment provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The initiative aims to repurpose debris from damaged structures into usable materials.

The recycled materials will serve multiple purposes: forming the base of roads, acting as filler for concrete and other building materials, and reinforcing riverbanks. 

This process supports sustainable rebuilding efforts in an area heavily impacted by war. With approximately 4,000 structures damaged by ongoing hostilities, Kyiv Oblast faces significant cleanup and reconstruction. 

Journalists are invited to observe and report on the region’s ecological recycling efforts.

• ecology
• Kyiv

“We haven’t lived long enough; we want to live a little longer.” This poignant statement from Nazar, spoken when he was just nine, resonates deeply today as he turns twelve. Born in the Luhansk region, which is now occupied, Nazar’s childhood has been shaped by ongoing war.

In 2022, he was forced to flee his home amid intense rocket attacks by the russian army. His mother, a psychotherapist at an art school, dedicated her efforts to helping children in eastern Ukraine, often traveling to remote villages with mobile brigades. Tragically, during the occupation, their family home and school were looted.

Despite the upheaval, Nazar’s passion for nature conservation remains unwavering. Since the age of four, he has actively participated in initiatives to protect the environment, creating reusable shopper bags, organizing school theater performances, and leading community clean-up efforts.

Nazar is also a contributor to the book “War through the Voices of Children,” a collection of children’s reflections on the impact of war that has recently made its way into American bookstores.

Journalists wishing to learn more about Nazar’s inspiring story can arrange interviews with him in the Kyiv region.

• children
• ecology
• occupation
• Kyiv

On October 28-29, 2024, a press tour will take place in Mykolaiv Oblast, where volunteers of the international humanitarian project “Let’s Do It Ukraine SOS” will present renovated shelters in two educational institutions. These institutions were severely damaged by the floods caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam.

As part of the press tour, volunteers will also donate dehumidifiers, air purifiers and charging stations that work without electricity. These will be delivered to the facilities where repairs have already been completed. This equipment will help ensure healthy and comfortable conditions for learning and use of school shelters in the future.

Transportation for journalists from Kyiv and back will be arranged. Accreditation is required.

Background: The restoration work was carried out as part of the project to deal with the aftermath of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam explosion “Flood relief in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts, assistance to households and social infrastructure facilities “Cleaning, disinfection, restoration and preparations for winter”,  with the assistance of AWO International and with the financial support of Aktion Deutschland Hilft. 

On June 6, 2023, the russian forces blew up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in the Kherson region, causing almost 14 billion dollars of damage in Ukraine.  This is stated in the “Post Disaster Needs Assessment report of the Kakhovka Dam Disaster” prepared by the UN and the Ukrainian government.

• casualties
• ecology
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• Mykolaiv

Biologist Yurii Benhus and his wife are on a mission to restore Kharkiv’s Zhuravlivka neighborhood forest, which was severely damaged by a russian attack. The forest, 70% of which was destroyed by fire, is slowly being revived as the couple plant acorns that will eventually grow into oak trees.

The fire erupted on September 16, consuming around four hectares. Just a day later, while emergency crews were still on the scene, the area was hit again—this time by a russian guided aerial bomb, injuring four firefighters.

Undeterred by the threat of further shelling, Yurii and his wife return to the forest several times each week, steadfastly working to bring new life to the charred landscape. 

The couple, based in Kharkiv, is open to sharing their story both online and in person by prior arrangement.

• ecology
• Kharkiv

On September 20, under the slogan “Let’s make Ukraine clean together!”, Ukraine will once again participate in World Cleanup Day. Events will be held in various regions.

The main goal is to promote a culture of cleanliness, proper waste management and responsible consumption among citizens and to unite efforts for an environmentally sustainable future.

Participants will include citizens, commercial and non-profit organizations, media, opinion leaders, companies, and government institutions whose employees will participate in various formats as part of corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Journalists can learn more about and cover the event. Accreditation is required.

For reference: Since 2024, World Cleanup Day has been declared an official UN day, celebrated annually on September 20. 

Organizer: All-Ukrainian youth movement “Let’s Do It Ukraine” together with the international movement “Let’s Do It World” and the international youth movement “School Recycling World”.

• ecology

From August 9 to 11, the Kolochava village in Zakarpattia Oblast will host a special festival blending ecology and cinema in honor of the late soldier Roman Zhuk. 

Organized by the CHYSTO.DE NGO, this event will feature a diverse lineup of activities including ecological awareness, film education, screenings, and tourism. The Eco Film Festival will engage attendees through hands-on workshops where young participants will create videos about nature and produce stop-motion animations highlighting the impact of waste on wildlife, guided by professional directors. The festival will also offer open-air film screenings, lectures, masterclasses with industry experts, and discussions on pressing environmental issues.

Roman Zhuk, who passionately advocated for environmental preservation, envisioned a grand festival like this one. Before his untimely death in May 2022, Zhuk, who was serving as a scout with the 128th separate mountain assault brigade, and his wife had organized numerous eco-picnics at the Vilshany Reservoir, a location marred by litter. Following his death, more than 20 tons of garbage were removed from the reservoir to uphold Zhuk’s legacy in tribute to his dedication.

For reference: For several years, the CHYSTO.DE team has been effectively cleaning up the Carpathians, participating in environmental protection efforts, and promoting environmental education.

• culture
• dead
• ecology
• military