Representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine took part in a specialized training program for experts in the assessment, monitoring, and management of damaged soils, which took place in Belgium.
Over the course of two weeks, Ukrainian military ecologists familiarized themselves with international standards and technological processes for studying the environmental damage caused by military actions. They also mastered advanced experience and best laboratory practices, rules for sampling, and conducting laboratory studies of soils.
Given the scale of damage inflicted on Ukraine's agricultural lands by mines and explosive remnants, the organizers focused the training on sampling and assessing soil and groundwater, as well as strategies for mitigating contamination risks.
"The knowledge we have gained will help us more effectively use international experience in environmental monitoring and the restoration of damaged ecosystems, particularly soils. This, in turn, will contribute to resilience against environmental threats arising from the armed aggression of the Russian Federation," said Colonel Serhii Savchenko, a representative of the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Security.
The specialized course was organized at the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The training took place at the Belgian Royal Military Academy, the University of Liège, the VITO laboratory, and the Nuclear Energy Research Center.
Upon completion of the training, Ukrainian military ecologists received certificates from the soil laboratory network of Belgium and Luxembourg for assessing the condition of soils and groundwater affected by war.
Context: Russia’s invasion has caused severe ecological damage in Ukraine, including to military infrastructure. The estimated environmental losses currently exceed UAH 367 billion.
