Risk of man-made and ecological disasters at the filter stations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions

Abstract

The ecological situation in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the context of the military conflict which began in early 2014 is unstable and requires a timely resolution. Military conflicts lead to a number of dangerous impacts on soils and landscapes, surface and underground waters, vegetation and fauna, and military actions significantly increase the risk of emergencies in industrial enterprises and infrastructural facilities. Conflicts occurring in industrially developed territories with a large number of environmentally hazardous enterprises and objects constitute a particular danger to the environment. This article considers critical infrastructural objects on the example of objects of water supply (filtering stations) of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Damage to or destruction of these objects threatens national security, the economy, and the health and safety of the population. Water supply facilities require the attention and access of international experts for preventing man-made and ecological disasters. An expert evaluation was carried out to assess theenvironmental threats and risks, existing threats were identified, an information and analytical system was developed, and recommendations were issued for minimizing the risks of man-made and ecological disasters. The current risk of an industrial accident with significant environmental consequences occurring in the course of the conflict is in the range from "low" to "average". According to an expert assessment within the framework of the OSCE Project Coordinator's study in Ukraine, in the course of development of any adverse scenarios, the potential danger of emergencies with serious environmental consequences remains significant. With large volumes of liquid chlorine emissions into the air, the population living in the zone of possible chemical contamination can be subjected to a severe degree of poisoning, which will lead to lethal consequences and a large number of victims. Economic development of Donetsk and Lugansk regions without the obligatory consideration of environmental factors is impossible. Ensuring the rehabilitation of the ecology of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts is an important factor in bringing environmental protection activities in the region into line with the requirements of environmental safety in the current social and economic conditions and making these activities an integral part of the sustainable economic and social development of Ukraine.