Ukrainian military ecologists completed training in Belgium on assessing war-damaged soils

Representatives from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine participated in a specialized training program for experts in assessing, monitoring, and managing war-damaged soils. The course was held in Belgium.

For two weeks, Ukrainian military ecologists underwent training on international standards and technological processes used to assess environmental harm caused by combat operations. They also acquired advanced expertise and best laboratory practices, as well as protocols for soil sampling and conducting laboratory analyses.

Given the extensive damage inflicted on Ukraine’s agricultural lands by mines and explosive remnants of war, the program focused on the sampling and assessment of soil and groundwater, as well as strategies for mitigating contamination risks.

“The knowledge we have gained will enable us to apply international experience more effectively in environmental monitoring and the restoration of damaged ecosystems, particularly soils. This, in turn, will contribute to ensuring resilience against environmental threats arising from the armed aggression of the russian federation,” stated Colonel Serhii Savchenko, a representative of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety.

The specialized course was initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The training took place at the facilities of the Belgian Royal Military Academy, the University of Liège, the VITO laboratory, and the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre. 

Upon completing the training course, Ukrainian military ecologists received certificates from the network of soil laboratories in Belgium and Luxembourg to assess war-affected soils and groundwater.

Reference information: The russian aggression has caused an ecocide on Ukrainian territory, including at facilities under the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine’s system. The estimated environmental damages currently amount to over UAH 367 billion.