The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the soil-surface water interactions

This research aims to discuss and reflect on the main consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the soil, and water resources of Ukraine. For the soil resources, the main outcomes are as follows: 1) approximately 35% of the Ukrainian territories have been experiencing soil destruction processes due to the war implications – 130 thousand km² of the land is mined or damaged; part of the agricultural land for growing crops is not suitable, especially in regions (oblasts) such as Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, and Chernihiv (according to the state report on May 2023); 2) as a result of the damaged Kakhovka Hydropower Dam, losses of crop yields on the part of the Kherson region consist of 100 thousand tons, 31 irrigation systems are left without access to water supply in the southern part of Ukraine. Degradation of soil has impacts on water pollution via polluted runoff and erosion.

For the water resources, the main outcomes are as follows: 1) 724 hydrotechnical systems (hydraulic structures), 160 of treatment and sewage systems (water treatment and sewage facilities), and 22 dams are destroyed leading to water pollution; 2) up to 90% of the irrigation system in the south of Ukraine is lost, and 67% less fishing due to damaged or destroyed hydraulic systems; 3) the disruption of the Kakhovka Hydropower Dam has resulted in the flooded areas: water from the dammed reservoir was flushed and flooded the surrounded areas with polluted soils and households, a lot of pollutants was released into the water from untreated human waste, products of animals, around 31 water supply and drainage facilities were affected, 13 villages left without centralized water supply, and 4 landfills of solid household waste became flooded.

In our research, we analyzed the implications of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the state of soil and water resources and explored their interactions. We identified the main consequences of the Russian aggression such as the loss of soil productivity, the reduction of food production potentials, and the reduction of water safety and availability. The cause-and-effect relationships of risks are discussed. These relationships can become a threat and lead to the deterioration of the population's supply of food and safe water, and the spread of infectious diseases.

Keywords: soil resources; water resources; the Russian-Ukrainian war; soil destruction, the deterioration of food and safe water.