The Impact of the Russian Armed Aggression on the Condition of the Water Area of the Dnipro-Buh Estuary System

Abstract

The Russian armed aggression is claiming lives of thousands of people, putting disastrous pressure on the environment of Ukraine, destroying natural landscapes, flora and fauna species, polluting water bodies, damaging a fertile soil layer, poisoning the environment with oil products and heavy metals. Combat zones, frontline areas and occupied territories are suffering most. The purpose of the research is to establish spatio-temporal patterns of the formation of surface water quality in 2018–2023 and determine the impact of the Russian armed aggression on the functioning of the water area of the Dnipro-Buh estuary system. The research was carried out using hydrological, biological and physical-chemical indicators. We identified negative consequences of the hostilities causing the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station dam in 2023 and the drainage of the water reservoir, discharge of pollutants with a concentration of 1.1-51.8 MPC and pollution in the water area of 6800 km2 of the estuary system and the Black Sea. The dam destruction has a number of negative environmental and socioeconomic consequences. Seasonal indicators of the hydrological regime of the Dnipro-Buh estuary system testified to deterioration of the system condition by 1.42–1.82 time. In particular, there was stagnation of water masses, an increase in the saturation of water sources with biogenic elements by 2.1 times, a rise in the density of algae distribution, an increase in chlorophyll concentration by 2.9 times. We also identified deterioration of the condition of surface waters to the Polytrophic state and deterioration of physical-chemical properties of water by 4.0 times. The research findings prove that the damage to the environment can be regarded as ecocide, that is an important informational base for developing measures and implementing technologies of post-war restoration of the ecological condition of water bodies and ensuring their zonal sustainability.