Environmental consequences resulted from the oil depots’ deterioration by the RF’s missile attacks

Since the beginning of the full-scale aggression on 24 February, 2022, primary targets for missiles attacks of Russian Federation were the objects of energy sector of Ukraine.  According to the reports of the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine, more than 30 units comprising oil depots, product warehouses, refineries, gas stations were destroyed during the March 2022 only. Most of these objects were oil depots.  The purpose of this investigation was an environmental impact assessment of the missile attacks on the petroleum depots. We analysed the cases of destruction of oil depots in Okhtyrka (Okhtyrkanaftogaz), Chernihiv (Aystra), Kalynivka (KLO) and Kryachki (AS Investment), which were completely or partially destroyed. The results of field research, satellite monitoring data, data of the State Environmental Inspection and other state bodies were used for the analysis.

As a result of the attacks, a significant part of petroleum products burned, which caused atmospheric air pollution by combustion products (carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), soot (C), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), marginal hydrocarbons (С12-C19)). The estimated volume of emissions at the Kalynivka oil depot alone is more than 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mt CO2e). Spills of oil products caused pollution and partial burning of the surface layer of soils (at all bases) and penetration of oil products into groundwater with further migration over considerable distances (Kalynivka oil depot). The article presents the results of the monitoring and quantitative assessment of the soil and ground water pollution by oil derivatives as well as plant biodiversity assessment on the territory suffered from the incidents.