Environmental Problems in the Ukrainian Village During the Independence Period: Historical Context
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract. The purpose of this article is to conduct a comprehensive study of the environmental issues faced by Ukrainian
rural areas during the period of independence (1991–2024).
The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the authors, by exploring the multifaceted nature of environmental problems in
Ukrainian villages throughout the independence era, identified and analyzed the key destructive factors that have adversely
affected the current living conditions of the rural population. The research offers a new interpretation of previously known
historical facts.
Conclusions. There is now sufficient evidence to assert a significant deterioration of the environmental situation in
Ukrainian rural areas during the independence period, resulting from the accumulation of a wide range of ecological issues.
Based on the materials utilized in this study, the authors identified several factors that have had a destructive impact on the
rural environment.
Firstly, the consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, which significantly affected rural areas, have not been fully
mitigated. Governmental authorities commonly attributed this to a lack of financial resources. Secondly, the rise in activity of
large-scale economic entities such as agroholdings and major meat and dairy enterprises at the beginning of the 21st century,
many of which operated in violation of regulations, has doubled the environmental burden on rural regions, negatively affecting soil quality, groundwater and surface water, and air quality. Thirdly, the low level of environmental awareness among the
rural population itself (e.g., unauthorized landfills, burning of dry grass) has contributed to the gradual transformation of previously clean areas into zones contaminated by chemicals and heavy metals. Fourthly, the Russian-Ukrainian war has become a major driver of ecological destruction, causing massive losses to flora and fauna, the poisoning of air with toxic substances, the devastation of agricultural land, and soil degradation due to landmines, toxic spills, and flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Article Details
References
Baranovska, N. (2011). Vplyv Chornobylskoi katastrofy na transformatsiini protsesy u suspilstvi [The impact of the Chernobyl disaster on the transformational processes in society]. Ukrainskyi istorychnyi zhurnal. [Ukrainian Historical Journal], 2, 123–142. [in Ukrainian]
Сhubina, T. & Fedorenko, Ya. & Spirkina, O. (2023) Ekolohichni ta sotsialno-demohrafichni naslidky
avarii na Chornobylskii atomnii elektrostantsii — istorychna retrospektyva cherez 36 rokiv [Еnvironmental and
socio-demographic consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident: a historical retrospective after
years]. Kwartalnik naukowy ‘Studia Regionalne i Lokalne`. Special issue on Ukraine. [Scientific quarterly ‘Local history’ Special issue on Ukraine]. 101–109. DOI: 10.7366/15094995s2307 [in English]
Erodovanist gruntiv Ukrainy [Erosion of soils of Ukraine] (2023). Holovnyi sait dlia ahronomiv Superagronom. [Main site for agronomists Superagronom]. Retrieved from https://superagronom.com/karty/erodovanist-gruntiv-ukrainy [in Ukrainian]
Fedorenko, Ya. (2012) Okremi aspekty rozvytku suchasnoho ahrarnoho sektoru Ukrainy: problemy ekolohichnoi bezpeky. [Certain aspects of the development of the modern agrarian sector of Ukraine problems of environmental safety]. Naukovo-metodychnyi zhurnal «Naukovi pratsi». [Scientific and methodological journal ‘Scientific Works’]. Mykolaiv: Vyd-vo ChDU im. Petra Mohyly. 180. 57–61. [in Ukrainian]
Fedorenko, Ya. (2014). Stan ekolohichnoho seredovyshcha zhyttiediialnosti selian u protsesi transformatsii ahrarnoho sektoru: istorychnyi kontekst [The state of the ecological environment of the peasants in the process of transformation of the agrarian sector: historical context]. Zbirnyk naukovykh prats «Naukovi zapysky». Seriia «Istorychni nauky». [Collection of scientific works ‘Scientific notes’. Series ‘Historical Sciences’.]. Kirovohrad: RVV KDPU im. Volodymyra Vynnychenka. 70–75 [in Ukrainian]
Herun, Yu. (2019) Svynoferma vlashtuvala nezakonnyi skotomohylnyk na zemliakh atovtsiv bilia Kamianky-Buzkoi [The pig farm organised an illegal cattle slaughterhouse on the land for participants of the anti-terrorist operation near Kamianka Buzka]. Zakhid net. [Zaxid net]. Retrieved from https://zaxid.net/na_zemlyah_atovtsiv_poblizu_kamyanki_buzkoyi_svinoferma_vlashtuvala_nezakonniy_skotomogilnik_n1482804 [in Ukrainian]
Hladenko, K. (2023). Zhyteli sela na Romenshchyni proty utvorennia smittiezvalyshcha [Residents of the village in the Romenskyi region are against the formation of a garbage dump]. Suspilne. Sumy [Public. Sumy]. Retrieved
from https://suspilne.media/sumy/386816-ziteli-sela-na-romensini-proti-utvorenna-smittezvalisa/ [in Ukrainian]
Istoriia ukrainskoho selianstva: Narysy v 2-kh t. [The history of the Ukrainian peasantry: Essays in two
volumes]. (2006) Kyiv: Naukova dumka, Т. 2. [in Ukrainian]
Kravchenko, A. (2023). Pidryv Kakhovskoi HES: trahediia, yaka zminyt silske hospodarstvo pivdnia
ta vsiiei Ukrainy [Undermining Kakhovka HPS: tragedy that will change the agriculture of the south and the
whole of Ukraine]. UKRINFORM. Retrieved from https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-economy/3721075-pidriv-kahovskoi-ges-tragedia-aka-zminit-silske-gospodarstvo-pivdna-ta-vsiei-ukraini.html [in Ukrainian]
Kudryl, O. (2020). Ploshchi sivby soniashnyku v Ukraini zrosly na ponad 500 tys. ha. [The area of sunflower sowing in Ukraine increased by more than 500 thousand hectares]. Retrieved from https://superagronom.
com/news/11104-ploschi-sivbi-sonyashniku-v-ukrayini-zrosli-na-ponad–500-tis-ga [in Ukrainian]
Lubinets, D. (2023). Dovkillia — movchazna zhertva viiny: yak rosiiska armiia vchyniaie ekolohichni
zlochyny y porushuie prava liudyny [The environment is a silent victim: as the Russian army commits environmental crimes and violates human rights]. LB. ua. Retrieved from https://lb.ua/blog/dmytro_lubinets/581276_
dovkillya_ movchazna_zhertva_viyni_yak.html [in Ukrainian]
Naboka, M. (2012) Meshkantsi ukrainskykh sil piketuvatymut ptakhofabryky, yaki, kazhut, ubyvaiut
ditei. [Residents of Ukrainian villages will picket poultry farms, that they say, it’s kill children]. Radio ‘Svoboda’.
Retrieved from: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/24672396.html [in Ukrainian]
Na Cherkashchyni zhyteli sela poterpaiut vid nesterpnoho smorodu svynoferm. [In Cherkasy region,
villagers suffer from the unbearable stench of pig farms] (2013). TSN Ukraina.[TNS of Ukraine]. Retrieved from
html [in Ukrainian]
Pid Kyievom skandal cherez lvivske smittia. [A scandal arose near Kyiv because of Lviv garbage]. (2016).
Ukrainska pravda [Ukrainian truth]. Retrieved from https://kiev.pravda.com/news/577a11bb531bb/ [in Ukrainian]
Posivni ploshchi silskohospodarskykh kultur pid urozhai 2010 roku [Sown areas of agricultural crops for
the harvest of 2010] (2010). Statystychnyi biuleten.[ Statistical Bulletin]. Kyiv. [in Ukrainian]
Posivni ploshchi silskohospodarskykh kultur pid urozhai 2012 roku [Sown areas of agricultural crops for
the harvest of 2012] (2011). Kyiv. [in Ukrainian]
Postanova Kabinetu Ministriv Ukrainy «Pro zatverdzhennia normatyviv optymalnoho spivvidnoshennia
kultur u sivozminakh u riznykh pryrodno-silskohospodarskykh rehionakh» № 164. [Resolution of the Cabinet of
Ministers ‘Оn the approval of the standards of the resulting crop ratio in crop rotations in various natural agricultural regions’ № 164]. (2010). Retrieved from http:// zakon4. rada. gov.ua/ laws/ show/1 64–2010- % D0 %BF [in
Ukrainian]
Pro nevidkladni zakhody shchodo zakhystu hromadian Ukrainy vid naslidkiv Chornobylskoi katastrofy.
Postanova Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainskoi RSR № 95-XII [Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR:
To protect Ukrainian citizens from the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster № 95-XII]. (1990). Vidomosti Verkhovnoi Rady URSR [Information of the Verkhovna Rada of the URSR], 33. [in Ukrainian]
Prytykin, O. (2011). Ptakhivnytstvo masovoho urazhennia. [Poultry of mass destruction]. Ukrainskyi tyzhden. [Ukrainian week]. Retrieved from https://tyzhden.ua/ptakhivnytstvo-masovoho-urazhennia/ [in Ukrainian]
Ptakhofabryka na Kamianechchyni nechystoty skydala na liudski polia. [A poultry farm in the Kamianets
region dumped impurities on human fields] (2013). Retrieved from https://ye.ua/syspilstvo/13837_Ptahofabrika_na_Kam_yanechchini_ nechistoti_skidala_na_lyidski_polya.html [in Ukrainian]
Roi, M. (2023) Na Lvivshchyni komunalnyky pidpilno vyvozyly smittia na zakrytyi Slavskyi polihon.
[In the Lviv region, communal workers underground took out garbage to close the Slavsky landfill]. Lvivskyi
portal. [Lviv portal]. Retrieved from https://portal.lviv.ua/news/2023/10/05/na-lvivshchyni-komunalnyky-pidpilno-vyvozyly-smittia-na-zakrytyj-slavskyj-polihon [in Ukrainian]
Shevchenko, M. S. & Lebid, Ye. M. & Shevchenko S. M. (2016). Optymizatsiia posivnykh ploshch soniashnyku [Optimisation of sunflower sown areas]. Zhurnal «Ahronom». [Journal ‘Аgronom’]. Retrieved from
https://www.agronom.com.ua/ optymizatsiya-posivnyh-ploshh-sonyashnyku/ [in Ukrainian]
Shved, O. (2021) «Vyhnaty vovka»: u seli na Cherkashchyni khochut pozbutysia smittiezvalyshcha v
lisi. [‘Expel the wolf’: in a village in the Cherkasy region they want to get rid of a landfill in the forest.]. Suspilne. Cherkasy. [Public. Cherkasy].: Retrieved from https://suspilne.media/cherkasy/133118-vignati-vovka-u-seli-na-cerkasini-hocut-pozbutisa-smittezvalisa-v-lisi/ [in Ukrainian]
Smolii, V. & Berenshtein L. & Panchenko, P. (2000). Ekolohichni problemy rozbudovy hromadianskoho
suspilstva v suchasnii Ukraini. [Environmental problems of civil society development in modern Ukraine]. Kyiv.
[in Ukrainian]
Sotsialnyi, medychnyi ta protyradiatsiinyi zakhyst postrazhdalykh v Ukraini vnaslidok Chornobylskoi
katastrofy: Zbirnyk zakonodavchykh aktiv ta normatyvnykh dokumentiv [Social medical and anti-radiation protection of victims in Ukraine as a result of the Chernobyl disaster: Сollection of legislative acts and regulatory
documents] (1998). Kyiv: Chornobylinterinform. [in Ukrainian]
Stan radiolohichnykh doslidzhen produktsii ta syrovyny za 10 misiatsiv 2019 roku. [State of radiological
studies of products and raw materials for 10 months of 2019.] (2019). Retrieved from: https://voladm.gov.ua/article/stan-radiologichnih-doslidzhen-produkciyi-ta-sirovini-za–10-misyaciv–2019-roku/ [in Ukrainian]
Strilets, R. (2022). Bomba spovilnenoi dii: chomu svit ne mozhe ihnoruvaty ekolohichni naslidky viiny v Ukraini. [The time bomb: Why the world cannot ignore the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine]
Ukrainska pravda. [Ukrainian truth]. Retrieved from https://life.pravda.com.ua/columns/2022/06/22/ 249216/ [in
Ukrainian]
Zahrozy u sferi ekolohichnoi ta tekhnohennoi bezpeky ta yikh vplyv na stan natsionalnoi bezpeky (monitorynh realizatsii Stratehii natsionalnoi bezpeky)». Analitychna zapyska. Threats in the field of environmental and technogenic security and their impact on the state of national security (Monitoring the implementation of the national security Strategy). Analytical note. Retrieved from https://niss.gov.ua/doslidzhennya/nacionalna-bezpeka/zagrozi-u-sferi-ekologichnoi-ta-tekhnogennoi-bezpeki-ta-ikh-vpliv [in Ukrainian]
Zvit pro stratehichnu ekolohichnu otsinku derzhavnoi tsilovoi ekonomichnoi prohramy enerhetychnoi modernizatsii pidpryiemstv vodopostachannia ta vodovidvedennia, shcho perebuvaiut u derzhavnii abo komunalnii vlasnosti na period do 2030 roku. [Report on the strategic environmental assessment of the state target economic program for energy modernisation of water supply and drainage enterprises that are in state or communal ownership for the period up to 2030]. (2024). Ministerstvo vidnovlennia rozvytku hromad, terytorii ta infrastruktury [Ministry of Restoration of Community Development of Territories and Infrastructure]. Kyiv. [in Ukrainian]