ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS AND ECONOMIC LOSSES TO GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT AND MINERAL RESOURCES CAUSED BY RUSSIA’S MILITARY AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE. UPDATED DATA

Abstract

Beyond the enormous losses of priceless human lives, extreme economic losses, tremendous impacts on our country’s geological environment have been caused by russia’s military aggression since 2014. In particular, as a result of hostilities and missile attacks, the entire network of large metallurgical and chemical facilities have been completely destroyed, nearly a hundred of oil depots and other fuel storage facilities throughout the country have been damaged, resulting in the contamination of soil, surface and groundwater, vegetation, etc. A number of hydrotechnical facilities were damaged, leading to large-scale flooding, etc. Shelling damaged a number of mining facilities, mineral deposits and other geological sites, such as unique stratotypic cross-sections, geological landmarks, and landscape parks. The objective of this paper is to provide an assessment of environmental damage and economic losses to the geological environment and mineral resource base of the country based on updated satellite monitoring data using remote sensing. Based on the analysis of the map of operating deposits and the updated map of hostilities (impact of shells, missiles, etc.), it was found that as of 13.04.2023, out of 2,164 total mineral deposits in Ukraine (excluding water resources), only 490 deposits (22.6%) are located in the temporarily occupied territories or within 25 km of the frontline. According to the results of the assessments, the following deposits are located in the territories not controlled by Ukraine: 139 hydrocarbon deposits (24%); 175 coal deposits (81%); 67 non-metallic mineral deposits (5.3%); 5 metallic mineral deposits (7%). Thus, the use of geological environment monitoring and remote sensing using GIS tools (in the conditions of lack of access to such objects) plays a key role in obtaining reliable and internationally acceptable data as proof for financial compensation. In this regard, there is a critical need for immediate actions in order to revitalise and reform the geological monitoring system in Ukraine.