Themes by tag: ecology

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

Artem Sylko is an entrepreneur from Kyiv region. Artem has always been concerned about environmental pollution, so he decided to start a business that would be friendly to nature. At first, he made pencils that can be planted in a pot and grown as a plant.

After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Artem decided to use recycled paper for postcards and business cards, and then tried to add seeds to this paper. The businessman experimented with plants, observed what grew best. In the end, he created a company called Paperiya. This is a printing house that produces “blooming paper” from the waste of several factories. If this paper is thrown away out in the open, it will decompose in two weeks, and it will also grow shoots of various plants. Currently, 80% of printing house’s customers are Ukrainians.

Artem Sylko is in Kyiv region. He is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and in person.

• ecology
• Kyiv

The results of the fourth environmental mission will be published in the coming days. The mission was conducted in March 2024 by “Let’s do it Ukraine” volunteers together with the Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of Sea. Water and bottom sediment samples were taken from reservoirs, wells and boreholes in settlements of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions with the goal to analyze how the quality of water changed due to the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP dam.

Research results will also be used in the criminal proceedings conducted by the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine and the Main Investigative Department of the Security Service of Ukraine.

As reported, environmental volunteers and scientists already conducted three such missions in the South of the country. The first water samples were taken in June 2023 in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. The next environmental mission took place in July. The first results yielded disappointing forecasts. Starting from the Dnipro River near Kherson, the content of oil products, toxic metals (zinc, cadmium, arsenic) and organic chlorine compounds exceeded safe concentration levels in the Dnipro-Buh estuary, the Black Sea near Ochakiv, and the Odesa Bay. The third environmental mission didn’t show any significant changes, as the results were just as disappointing.

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more about the findings of the previous and latest missions as well as talk with representatives of the “Let’s do it Ukraine ” movement in Kyiv. Media representatives will also have the opportunity to talk with representatives of the Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of Sea in Odesa.

In addition, it is possible to obtain photos and video materials from environmental missions.  

For reference: on June 6, 2023, the russian military blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam in Kherson region. This caused Ukraine losses estimated at USD 14 billion, states the report “Post Disaster Needs Assessment report of the Kakhovka Dam Disaster” by the UN and the Ukrainian government.

• casualties
• ecology
• russian crimes
• Kherson
• Kyiv

In the South of the country, particularly in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, volunteers of “Let’s do it Ukraine” movement are currently working on drying and disinfecting premises damaged due to the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP dam. Journalists are welcome to cover the work of volunteers and communicate with local residents.

Under the auspices of the AWO International and with the financial support of Aktion Deutschland Hilft the All-Ukrainian youth movement “Let’s do it Ukraine is implementing the project aimed at eliminating the consequences of the Kakhovka HPP dam explosion “Overcoming the consequences of the flood in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, helping households and social infrastructure objects: cleaning, disinfection, restoration works, preparation for winter.”

A total of 192 households will be gradually restored as a part of the project. Organizers, volunteers and specialized companies will help people dry the premises, carry out disinfection and pest control measures. In addition, some of the participants will even receive resources for carrying out basic works on liquidating flood consequences, and special equipment will be provided free of charge to speed up repairs.

For reference: one of the largest man-made disasters in Europe occurred on June 6, 2023, as the russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam. 600 km2 of territory was flooded, 30 settlements came under water in Kherson region, and 31 more in Mykolaiv region.

A huge wave of water from the Kakhovka Reservoir washed away everything in its path – garbage dumps, sewers, cemeteries, animal corpses, dangerous chemicals, etc. This contaminated water stayed in the houses for several days. In order to live in these premises, they must first be properly dried and disinfected.

• casualties
• ecology
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• Kherson
• Mykolaiv