Zone Of Ukraine Research Articles

P18-05 Modern aspects of the use of poisonous substances in the war zone in Ukraine

P18-05 Modern aspects of the use of poisonous substances in the war zone in Ukraine

Legal responsibility for violation of the legal regime of sanitary protection zones in Ukraine

This article examines the specifics of legal liability for violations of the legal regime of sanitary protection zones in Ukraine, as well as the main directions for improving the relevant legal regulation. Sanitary protective zones perform an important security function in separating potentially harmful objects from places of residence and stay of people. In this regard, a special legal regime is established on their territories, which provides for significant restrictions on their economic use. Non-compliance with the established requirements regarding the legal regime of sanitary protection zones is the basis for bringing guilty persons to legal responsibility. Currently, there are no special provisions in the current legislation of Ukraine regarding liability for violations of the legal regime of sanitary protection zones. In this regard, legal responsibility for illegal actions in this area is covered by sanctions for committing violations in the field of environmental protection of a “general nature” (violation of sanitary standards; arbitrary occupation of a plot of land; violation of environmental safety rules; design or operation of structures without protection systems environment; violation of land use rules, etc.). Therefore, there is a need to formalize the composition of offenses that are already provided for in the normative legal acts on the regulation of the legal regime of lands of sanitary protection zones, the codification of legislation on administrative responsibility for violations in the field of environmental protection, the introduction of special sanctions for violations of the legal regime of sanitary protection zones zones, as well as the unification of relevant provisions of Ukrainian legislation with the law of the countries of the European Union.

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES: BASIC PREFERENCES AND LEGAL REGULATION

The article is dedicated to the definition of the peculiarities of legal regulation of creation and functioning of special economic zones on the territory of Ukraine. The main preferences have been characterized, which are provided to ensure the liberalized regime of such zones. The classification of preferences has been carried out in accordance with the nature, grounds and consequences of the implementation. It has been classified: the fiscal and organizational; the political and economic preferences; the preferences for foreign and domestic investors; as well as the preferences based on domestic legislation and/or on the norms of the international agreements. The relevance of the research subject is due to the need to form an updated concept of legislative regulation of the regimes of special economic zones in Ukraine. The methodological basis of the research is formed by general scientific and special legal methods of scientific knowledge (dialectical, analysis and synthesis, scientific abstraction, forecasting). The article is aimed at formulating the basic scientific principles for updating the normative regulation and practical application of the preferential regime of special economic zones in Ukraine in the post-war period, determining the essence and characteristics of the main privileges and simplifications used in them. The task of the article is the developing proposals for the formation of a theoretically-applied basis for updating the current legislation of Ukraine on special economic zones and improving the legal regulation of their regimes. The article has characterized and analyzed the norms of laws and by-laws acts, aimed at regulating relations in the sphere of functioning of special economic zones in Ukraine, their insufficient character has been noted. The levels of such legal regulation have been defined: the national and local. It has been proposed to update the regulatory basis of the special economic zone in the Danube region, due to its significant importance and growth in 2022-2024.

Cluster Model for Establishing Special Economic Zones in Ukraine under Modern Conditions (Global Experience)

Object: Clusters are a relatively new form of organization, risk and profit sharing, and competitiveness enhance ment for both the global and Ukrainian economies. The potential of the cluster development model is significant, and, most importantly, it has been justified in developed countries worldwide. In particular, global practice confirms that the functioning of the most prosperous economies is supported by advantages in modern production technologies and man agement. Therefore, successful development of any level is possible through the comprehensive application of modern strategic management concepts. Thus, the object of the study is to reveal and substantiate the effectiveness of cluster model in establishing special economic zones in Ukraine. Methods: The paper uses general scientific and special methods, that are: the dialectical method of understanding cluster model for establishing special economic zones; comparative analysis methods; methods of empirical research, methods of statistical and structural analysis; methods of historical and logical analysis; identifying individual parts of an object, methods of system approach, identifying cause-and-effect relationships. Findings: Custers are established on the base of a unique internal environment and infrastructure specific to a par ticular region. This allows leveraging the competitive advantages of enterprises in a specific area through integration. A cluster serves as a stimulus for economic development, and regionalism forms the basis for its sustainable growth. Re gionalism is of great significance in selecting priority investment areas, as it can influence the level of uncertainty risk during the assessment of regional investment projects. Its effectiveness is confirmed by cluster development of the child nutrition project presented in the paper (Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine). Conclusions: Cluster approach makes it possible to use available resources more efficiently. The cluster approach is connected with the policy of capacity-building as well as increasing competition profitability of national economies. There are also some cluster formations on the territory of Ukraine. Сluster is a convenient form of organizing a free economic zone. At the same time, each government develops its own approaches to the creation of clusters and regula tion of their activities, accordingly, organizes the activities of those responsible for the implementation of the national strategy of sustainable competitive development.

НОВАЯ СТРАНИЦА В УЧЕБНИКЕ «ИСТОРИИ МЕДИЦИНЫ»: «ДОЛГ» И «ГЕРОИЗМ», КАК ДОМИНАНТНЫЕ ЭТИЧЕСКИЕ КАТЕГОРИИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ГЕРОИЗМА РОССИЙСКИХ ВРАЧЕЙ В ЗОНЕ СВО НА УКРАИНЕ)

In education, the task is to create new, relevant textbooks on National history this also applies to textbooks on the "History of Medicine" and "Bioethics". The importance of the basic ethical categories (duty, responsibility, honor, justice, humanism, mercy, compassion) in medical deontology remains important, especially the question of the real implementation of these principles in the daily work of a doctor. The problem has become especially relevant in connection with the implementation of the SVO in Ukraine. Here the ethical categories of "duty" and "heroism" find an organic synthesis. The purpose of the study: To consider the deontological concepts of "duty" and "heroism" in the socio-historical aspect on the examples of the actions of Russian doctors in the SVO zone in Ukraine. New: In this work, for the first time in a scientific article, the principles of "medical duty" and "heroism of doctors" are analyzed based on the specifics of the SVO (Special Military Operation) in Ukraine, the study is based on media materials (TV, Internet, Russian newspapers). Thus, materials are offered for the creation of a new textbook on the "History of Medicine". The research methods used in writing the article: the principle of historicism allows us to consider events in development; - dialectics is a kind of discourse in understanding human behavior in an extreme situation; - hermeneutic analysis, consideration of categories in the context of events; sociological method – the study analyzes modern media. The current socio-political situation has contributed to the manifestation of the best qualities of the doctor's personality in special conditions. So, the biography of an ordinary person-a doctor, in fact, becomes a history textbook! The events in the SVO zone in Ukraine are a new page in National history, including in the history of medicine.

Expanding trauma education during war: pediatric trauma fundamentals training in Ukraine.

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale offensive in Ukraine, resulting in significant casualties to civilians, including children. As part of a seven-stream trauma education initiative, a novel pediatric trauma fundamentals course (PTF) was developed to provide standalone pediatric trauma education by our academic/NGO partnership. The objective of the program was to develop, implement, and evaluate a novel PTF educational course in the active armed conflict zone of Ukraine. A novel two-day PTF course was internally developed, translated into Ukrainian, and implemented across eight Oblasts (regions) in Ukraine from November 2022 to December 2023. Participants completed pre-and post-assessments in knowledge and self-confidence, and critical skills were assessed against objective skill checklists. Change in knowledge and self-confidence were analyzed, respectively, with the nonparametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and McNemar's test for paired data. Anonymous course evaluations were solicited after each course. Six to eight-week follow-up surveys were conducted to assess skill utilization and stewardship. Four hundred and forty-six Ukrainian health care providers were trained during 30 courses across 8 Oblasts in Ukraine during the intervention period. Aggregated knowledge and self-confidence significantly improved across all measures. Ukrainian instructors of courses received higher raw scores across all evaluation points on instructor feedback surveys as compared to international instructors. Six to eight-week follow-up surveys demonstrated participants had positive views of the training, have used the training on patients, and have taught the material to other health care providers. Our novel PTF intervention demonstrates a successful partnership-based model for implementing pediatric trauma education in an active conflict zone in Ukraine. Challenges to implementing such programs can be mitigated through strategic partnership-based models between academic institutions and organizations with local knowledge and expertise. Ukrainian instructors provide course experiences similar or superior to international instructors, likely due to multiple factors related to language, culture, and context.

Assessing the impact of selfie-taking tourists on local tour guides in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: a netnographic analysis of a dark tourism location

ABSTRACT Self-portrayed photographs, more commonly known as selfies, are a modern way of expressing oneself at popular tourist destinations. Selfies enable individuals to be seen by others on the web. There has been fierce debate about whether taking selfies is appropriate from an ethical standpoint at tourist places with darker and more sensitive histories. This study, a first of its kind, is a multi-method analysis of tour guides’ emotions towards selfie-taking tourists in the dark tourism location of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine. As a phenomenon that has been introduced fairly recently, extant research has addressed the consequences selfies have on dark touristic sites, but no current study has considered the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The methods used to evaluate the current situation are netnography and one-on-one, in-depth interviews with Chernobyl tour guides. Findings show that there has been a degree of conflict between tour guides and tourists who take selfies. Performance of emotional labor is detected amongst some tour guides. Interestingly, this result emerged more during interviews than from data mining in the online community. Managers of the site of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are advised to look into ways of implementing a more responsible tourist behavior structure.

Teeth Enamel Ultrastructural Analysis of Selected Equidae Taxa

This paper presents historical and evolutionary insights into the “tarpan” group of small horses by examining molar tooth enamel ultrastructure. Mathematical methodologies were applied to enhance the analysis. Tooth enamel from species such as Equus gmelini (tarpan), E. latipes, and E. hydruntinus from Pleistocene Ukrainian localities, E. przewalskii from the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine, and E. caballus form sylvaticus (Polish konik) from Roztocze National Park, Poland, underwent scanning microscope examination. Measurements of enamel structures, including prisms (PE) and interprismatic matrix (IPM), were conducted, with the K-index used as their ratio, categorized by enamel type (I, II, III). The findings confirmed that the crystal structures of enamel in these horse groups vary based on genus evolution, diet, and environmental conditions, shaping the enamel’s morphological features. Through analysis, clusters were identified, allowing for potential reconstructions of relationships among study groups. The results revealed distinct differences between species, enabling their classification within an established phenogram. Two primary clusters emerged: one consisting of extinct small horse forms from diverse localities and another grouping modern forms. Notably, the Late Pleistocene European species E. latipes showed close affinities to the latter cluster.

Retrospective analysis of treatment, including access to breast reconstructions, of breast cancer patients – war refugees from Ukraine in Poland – the experience of a single tertiary care institution

<b>Introduction:</b> Following the Russian invasion, more than 3600000 refugees have fled Ukraine and settled down in Poland; this group includes a growing number of breast cancer patients whose treatment had been started in Ukraine and hence required urgent therapy in Poland.</br></br> <b>Aim:</b> The aim of the study was to analyze the treatment of breast cancer patients from Ukraine, who entered Poland as war refugees – the experience of a single tertiary care institution.</br></br> <b>Material and methods:</b> The treatment of 25 consecutive breast cancer patients, war refugees from Ukraine was reviewed retrospectively.</br></br> <b>Results:</b> Patients were treated according to subtype and staging, e.g. surgery, endocrine, anti-HER2 therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. 7 patients received an immediate implant, mesh-based breast reconstruction. In 2 cases, the patients refused breast reconstruction.</br></br> <b>Conclusions:</b> Nearly 5.5 million refugees across Europe who have fled the combat zones in Ukraine; of these, the vast majority sought shelter in Poland, and many of whom are women. It is expected that breast cancer mortality rates may rise and progress in oncology may slow as the war in Ukraine disrupts routine patient care, clinical trials and research. Hence, support from neighboring countries is mandatory.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCTIVE INDEXES OF BULLS OF MEAT BREEDS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE DNIPROVIAN STEPPE

Introduction. In many countries of the world, beef production is based on specialized meat cattle breeding. In Ukraine, this industry is also gaining strength, the breed composition is expanding, the number of livestock is increasing, and several foreign and domestic breeds of cattle are being grown. In terms of embryonic and post-embryonic growth and development, animals of different genotypes of beef cattle have many similar advantages, but at the same time certain breed differences and peculiarities are noted, which prompted the relevance of our research. The purpose of the research was to study the peculiarities of growth and development of Ukrainian gray, Ukrainian meat, and light Aquitaine breeds from birth to 30 months of age in the arid conditions of the Dnieper steppe. Methods. In the research farm "Polyvanivka" of the State Institution "Institute of Grain Crops of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences" three groups of clinically healthy gobies cattle of 4 heads each of gray Ukrainian, Ukrainian meat, and light Aquitaine breeds were formed. After birth, the animals were raised in the same room, under absolutely identical climatic, technological and fodder conditions until the age of 30 months. Distribution of fodder - by hand, watering of animals - with automatic waterers. Growth was studied according to external indicators of the measurements of body sexes, development - according to live weight, absolute and average daily growth. Modern biological, zootechnical, statistical, analytical methods were used. The results. A comparative assessment of growth and development features of beef cattle breeds (Ukrainian gray, Ukrainian meat, light Aquitaine) from birth to 30 months of age was carried out. The animals were fed with typical fodder for the steppe zone of Ukraine - winter wheat and barley straw, alfalfa hay, milk-wax corn silage, corn and alfalfa green mass, compound feed and mineral additives. External indicators show that all the controlled measurements of the livestock were within the breed norm, but their habit differed slightly: the gray Ukrainian bulls were taller; Ukrainian meat breed - more massive compared to the previous ones; and light Aquitaine - had a tubshaped body with well-developed trunk muscles. In the first months of the experiment, animals of the light Aquitaine breed were slightly behind their Ukrainian peers, but later, due to compensatory growth, they were ahead of their counterparts of the gray Ukrainian and Ukrainian meat breeds. In terms of slaughter performance, gray Ukrainian bulls were inferior to specialized butchers, which had their typical carcass weight, high slaughter yield and pulp yield. Conclusions. Despite the fact that the domestic gray Ukrainian and Ukrainian meat breeds are the most adapted to the dry hot climate, in our experiment, cattle of the light Aquitaine breed showed the highest productivity indicators, although its homeland is a "softer" climatic region. Key words: cattle, breed, bulls, ontogenesis, growth, development, exterior, productivity.

Comparative evaluation of the productivity of winter crops (wheat [Triticum aestivum L.], rye [Secale cereale L.], triticale [Triticosecale Witt.]) in the western forest-steppe of Ukraine

The aim of the study was to determine the parameters of adaptability of winter crop varieties for cultivation in the western forest-steppe zone of Ukraine (2019-2021). The subject of the study were wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties: Vodogray bilotserkivsky, Oberig Myronivsky, Mudrist odeska; rye (Secale ?ereale L.): Knyazhe, Kobza, Kharkivyanka; triticale (Triticosecale Witt.): Markian, Molfar, Obrij myronivsky. The tests were carried out in the field. The area of the experimental plot was 55 m2, and the placement of varieties was consecutive with three repetitions. The results showed that under the basic cultivation technologies and weather conditions of the growing seasons, the grain productivity of soft wheat varieties varied from 4.88 (Mudrist odeska) to 5.39 t ha-1 (Oberig Myronivsky); rye - from 5.55 (Kharkivyanka) to 6.32 t ha-1 (Kobza); triticale - from 6.45 (Markian) to 6.74 t ha-1 (Obrij myronivsky). The results obtained allow to conclude that ecologically plastic varieties of winter crops in the conditions of the studied soil-climatic zone accumulate a sufficient amount of sugar in the tillering nodes - 25-30%, ensure overwintering of plants - 94-96%, are resistant to the main diseases, which contributes to the production of high-quality seeds to ensure the cultivated area in the region and the efficiency of seed production.

НОТАРИАЛЬНОЕ УДОСТОВЕРЕНИЕ СДЕЛОК В УСЛОВИЯХ ВОЕННОГО ПОЛОЖЕНИЯ

This article examines the peculiarities of notarial certification of transactions against the background of the introduction of martial law in new constituent entities of the Russian Federation (Donetsk, Lugansk People's Republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions). The absence of legal norms was revealed that allow mobilized individuals to notarize the transaction, if such a need arose after leaving for the SVO zone in Ukraine, including the territory of new constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The specifics of the application of legislation on notarial activities during the transition period have been determined. Proposals have been formulated to improve the current legislation in the field of notarial certification of transactions for the purpose of adapting to the current needs of subjects of civil circulation.

How a gathering becomes a holiday. Modern social practices of migrants from flooded zones in Ukraine

The article presents the modern practices of remembering sunken Ukrainian villages at annual or periodic gatherings of migrants from flooded areas in various regions of Ukraine. It describes the subsequent stages of organising such events, from spontaneous visits to the flooded place to a solemn meeting of the villagers on the banks of the reservoir. It also discusses the ritualised mechanisms and means by which an ordinary meeting of group of people is transformed into a festival through the sacralisation of the gathering’s time and place (by building memorials, such as chapels, crosses or monuments, the publication of memoirs, organization of exhibitions, etc.), through the appropriate selection of participants and the use of suitable identifiers of a celebration time (e.g. a shared meal, musical accompaniment, the performance of special songs, the use of national costumes, the taking of memorial photographs).

Activities of military administrations under martial law in Ukraine

The relevance of the subject under study is conditioned upon the fact that in Ukraine, during the period of the legal regime of martial law, special bodies of public power with the powers of a military management organization can be created. Such bodies are military administrations and civil-military administrations, whose separation of powers is a complex process that requires more research. The purpose of this study was the legal characterization of the activities of special bodies in the conditions of military threats in Ukraine and the formation of proposals for improving the legislation in the area under study. The methods employed for this study include comparative, system-structural, comparative legal, formal legal, and systematization. The results established that in the conditions of a full-scale invasion, supporting the proper level of activity of public administration bodies is a necessary component in the fight against the enemy that encroaches on the territorial integrity of the state. It was found that ordinary citizens often identify the activities of military administrations and military civil administrations, which have different powers. This paper argues the need to outline basic provisions in the Constitution of Ukraine regarding the organization of the activities of military administrations to harmonize the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law” with the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine. The relevant practices of Israel and the United States of America were analysed. It was proposed, following the example of Israel, to introduce separate zones in Ukraine, considering the level of potential or existing military threat, and, depending on this, to give military administrations proper autonomy and powers. The materials of this study can be useful in studying the disciplines “Military law”, “Municipal law”, “Administrative law” since this study distinguishes the powers of military civil administrations and military administrations and provides examples of positive foreign practices in organizing the activities of public authorities in the context of military threats.

Biological method of protection of apple trees from green apple aphids and apple scab in the conditions of the Pre-Carpathian province of the Carpathian mountain zone of Ukraine

Goal. To study the effectiveness of biological preparations to reduce the number and harmfulness of green apple aphids, as well as to reduce the spread and development of apple scab in apple orchards of the Precarpathian province of the Carpathian mountain zone of Ukraine.
 Methods. Experiments to determine the technical and economic efficiency of biological protection of apple trees, study the phytosanitary status of apple orchards were conducted in 2016—2020 in the apple orchard of the Ukrainian Plant Quarantine Research Station of the Institute of Plant Protection of NAAS on apple orchards in 2005. Accounts for phytophagous population and the presence and development of diseases were carried out according to generally accepted methods in accordance with the phases of the host plant. The effectiveness of insecticides was determined by official methods in 2 and 7 days according to the formula of Henderson and Tilton, the effectiveness of fungicides — in 7 days. Statistical processing of research results was performed by the method of analysis of variance. Plant yield was determined during the third decade of September.
 Results. The use of the studied bioinsecticides and their mixtures reduced the number of green apple aphids by 61.1—76.8% and provided, in comparison with the control, an increase in the yield of apple orchards by 1.7—1.9 t/ha while improving the marketable quality of fruits. The use of the studied biofungicides and their mixtures allowed to reduce the spread and development of scabies on apple leaves by 66.5—72.5% and on apple fruits by 68.7—73.3%. Due to the use of the studied biofungicides, the yield of orchards was 1.7—2.5 t/ha more than the control and increased the amount of first-class fruit products by 9.5—20.0% compared to the control and reduced the number of non-standard fruits by 11.3—14.8%.
 Conclusions. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the studied bioinsecticides and biofungicides in apple orchards showed that all drugs allow to effectively control the number of green apple aphids and the spread and development of apple scab in the Precarpathian province of the Carpathian mountain zone of Ukraine.

Features of legal regulation of financial autonomy of higher education institutions

The article considers the legal support of financial autonomy of higher education institutions (HEI). The research-orientation of forms, ways and methods of normative consolidation of financial autonomy of the Free Economic Zone in the European Union is carried out. Legal conflicts and positive legislative approaches are studied through the prism of review of relevant acts of lawmaking: the Law of Ukraine “On Education”, the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education”, the Law of Ukraine “On Complete General Secondary Education”, the Law of Ukraine “On Public Procurement”. The key elements of the financial economy of the Free Economic Zone on transparency and food security are highlighted (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 305 of March 24, 2021 “On approval of norms and procedures for nutrition in educational and children’s health and recreation facilities”.
 At the theoretical level, a review of the concepts of financial and economic, founding and food autonomy of the Free Economic Zone in accordance with modern regulatory criteria.
 The author’s-conceptual view on the settlement of normative differences and the introduction of hypothetical changes in the relevant legislation is given.
 It is established that the legal regulation of the financial autonomy of the Free Economic Zone in Ukraine has signs of complexity, orderliness and systematization. The process is provided by the Law of Ukraine “On Education”, the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education”, the Law of Ukraine “On Complete General Secondary Education”, the Law of Ukraine “On Public Procurement”, Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers № 305 of 24.03.2021 approval of norms and the Procedure for the organization of nutrition in educational institutions and children’s health and recreation facilities “, in part –– Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers № 215 of 15.04.2015” On approval of the Regulations on the State Treasury Service of Ukraine “.
 At the same time, normative-legal regulation sometimes has signs of illogicality and inconsistency (such as the normative determination of the status of the founder, manager and authorized person when spending funds as an element of ZVO’s own financial autonomy according to Ukrainian legislation).
 At the same time, in our opinion, the selective incorporation of the positions of the European Commission and EU member states on providing a multi-educational environment with the process of information and economic openness should become an important element of normative and legal support of free economic autonomy in Ukraine.

Optimization of Water Consumption of High-Oleic Sunflower Hybrids under Non-Irrigated Conditions of the Steppe Zone of Ukraine

Optimization of Water Consumption of High-Oleic Sunflower Hybrids under Non-Irrigated Conditions of the Steppe Zone of Ukraine

THE INFLUENCE OF NATURAL FACTORS ON THE EMERGENCE OF LARGE SCYTHIAN SETTLEMENTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE ROUTES

This article considers the impact of changes in the natural environment on historical processes that took place in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine in the XI—V centuries BC. It is determined that one of the main reasons for the emergence of large Scythian settlements was a natural factor. Changes in climatic conditions in the steppe zone led to the almost complete outflow of population from its territory in the XI—V centuries BC. The establishment of a more favorable climate in the south of Ukraine, which began in the VII century BC, led to an increase in the population in the forest-steppe zone and the emergence of large Scythian settlements on its territory.
 The article also considers the question of the emergence and functioning of the main trade routes that existed in the Northern Black Sea region at that time. South Bug, Dnieper and Don rivers were used as trade routes beginning ХV century BC. The Scythian penetration to forest-steppe zone and the construction of big sites of settlements started before the start opening the north coastal Black Sea territory by Greek colonists. The Scythians appeared in the forest-steppe zone in the first half to mid- VII century, and the Greek opening of the coastal areas starts at the end of VII century BC. That time the South Bug, Dnieper and Don rivers became waterways connecting North Black sea area with central East Europe and Baltic countries. It were the estuaries of these rivers where appeared the biggest early Greek settlements: Berezan at the Bug and Dnieper estuary’s conjunction and Taganrog at the Don estuary. In the VII—V centuries South Bug was the main trade route. This point is supported by the fact that the Olvia state capital-Olvia city was established on the right bank of the Bug estuary.
 The Greek centers exported to these areas, possibly ceramics, vine, olive oil, jewelry etc. These are the ceramic residuals which make it possible to determine the big Scythian settlements lifetime. Greek traders as reported ancient authors imported from forest-steppe areas, where these settlements were established, cattle, slaves, copper, furs, wax, salted fish, amber etc. The climate improvement at the North Black Sea area started opening of these unsettled steppe areas. This process resulted in gradual decadence of big Scythian settlements. The Grate Scythian center moves to the lower reach of Dneaper river, which followed by main trade route transfer to that exact river. So the natural factor seriously influenced the South Black Sea areas historical processes in the VII—V centuries BC.

Environmental assessment of the quality of surface waters in the upper reaches of the Pripyat basin in Ukraine using different methods


 
 
 
 The aim of the study is to assess the quality of river waters in the upper reaches of the Pripyat River in Ukraine using two methods of environmental assessment of surface water quality in the relevant categories and to identify the effectiveness of these methods. The main factors influencing the water quality of the upper reaches of the Pripyat River in the Volyn region in the absence of large industrial and municipal enterprises in the basin are: the location of quite large rural settlements on the river bank, many of which do not have centralized drainage; the impact of the water of the Turiya River, which is polluted by domestic wastewater in Kovel; development of farms during unsatisfactory condition of the reclamation network; increase of anthropogenic pressure due to construction and plowing of the river. In order to perform ecological assessment of river water quality in the upper reaches of the Pripyat River, the Methodology of Ecological Assessment of Surface Water Quality by Relevant Categories approved in 1998 in Ukraine (Methodology-1998) and the modernized version of this methodology developed in 2012 were used by Ukrainian Research Institute of Environmental Problems (methodology-2012). The second method contains improved evaluation method of water quality according to the criteria of salt composition of water, taking into account the hydrochemical zoning of Ukraine. Analysis of the results obtained by two methods showed that the average annual salt composition (I1) quality of river waters of the upper Pripyat mainly corresponded to the 1st, 4th categories of I, III classes (“excellent”, “satisfactory” by condition, and “very clean”, “slightly contaminated” by the degree of contamination). According to troph-saprobiological (I2) indicators – the 4th category of class III water quality (“satisfactory” by condition and “slightly polluted” by the degree of pollution). According to the indicators of specific substances of toxic water (I3) – the 3rd, 5th category II, III classes of water quality (“good”, “mediocre” by condition and “fairly clean”, “moderately polluted” by the degree of contamination). According to the average annual values of integrated ecological indices (IE), obtained by two methods, the water quality of the upper Pripyat was characterized by the 3rd, 4th categories of II, III classes (“good”, “satisfactory” in condition and “sufficient”, and “clean”, “slightly contaminated” by the degree of contamination). The results of the assessment of the surface water quality of the upper reaches of the Pripyat River by two methods showed that the requirements of the method-2012 are higher to the salt composition of water than in the method-1998. According to this method, water quality was characterized by a worse class (III) compared to the method of 1998, according to which the quality of river waters in the upper reaches of the Pripyat corresponded to class I. Thus, the method-2012 sets stricter requirements for environmental assessment of river water quality, which can make it a more effective mechanism in the field of water protection.
 
 
 

A lost opportunity of a grand bargain: Security architecture between NATO and Russia

Ukraine is existential to Russia, but peripheral to American interests. The “escalation dominance” advantage is with Moscow, and no amount of military aid or economic coercion, short of an actual war, will deter Moscow, given the asymmetry of interests and differing threat perceptions. American public opinion remains firmly opposed to risking a potential great power war. That said, a Ukraine—if it exists as a state after the war—at peace with its neighbours is in everyone’s interest, as is a decreased risk of a great power conflict. This policy brief identifies some confidence-building measures that might, in a similar situation in the future, result in a more realist grand bargain. A potential war might be a short punitive campaign by Russia, in which case the central thesis of this policy brief, a neutral zone in Ukraine, will remain intact. It might also be a war of occupation and conquest, in which case this paper might be considered a study in a counterfactual history of what could have been.