Fossil war impact on atmosphere air, terrestrial ecosystems, and climate: involvement of master’s degree and post-graduate students in Ukrainian Polissia case study

Since the beginning of the military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine on 24 February, 2022, military actions and rocket attacks caused a powerful devastating impact on the objects of the residential sector and industry, infrastructure of life support and energy sector as well as on the natural environment, ecosystems, life, and health of people. This factor had a significant impact on the educational process in the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. On the one hand, aspects of the methodology and practice of assessing the environmental impact of military operations are reflected in the subjects taught to students of the master's program in Ecology. On the other hand, students of master's and PhD programs are involved in real surveys and environmental assessments of the state of deteriorated and polluted territories. The purpose of this study with students’ participation was to analyze the consequences of rocket and artillery shelling of oil depots in the villages of Kalynivka and Kryachky, Kyiv region, and the oil depot of the Aistra Enterprise in the city of Chernihiv. The article presents the results of the analysis of the impact of fires caused by shelling on atmospheric air, terrestrial ecosystems, and climatic characteristics of the Polissia region. The research and learning experience of the students are discussed additionally in terms of the capacity building of young researchers in extraordinary conditions.