Radiation disaster in Donbas: is there a real threat to the environment?
Experts assessed the likelihood of environmental degradation in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas
An environmental catastrophe could erupt in Donbas. According to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, such troubles could hit the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine within a few months. "Comments" asked experts to tell whether such risks really exist and whether everything is in order in the territory controlled by Kyiv.
"Putin and his accomplices don't care about the people and nature of Donbas" Communications expert, co-founder of the "Ants" National Interests Protection Network Lyudmyla Dolgonovska is convinced that serious environmental risks in Donbas do exist. "There are no exaggerations here," she emphasizes. "Representatives of Ukraine and international organizations have long been sounding the alarm about this, but there is no reaction from the occupation administrations. And this once again shows the true attitude of the Russian leadership to the residents of Donbas, whose fate Putin is allegedly so concerned about. In fact, he and his accomplices don't care about the people, land, water, and air of Donbas - he maniacally pursues his geostrategic interests." To solve this complex of environmental problems, the efforts of the entire international community are needed, notes Lyudmyla Dolgonovska. This includes assessing the situation with access to all facilities, developing a step-by-step action plan, its financing, and implementation. "We must not forget about the environment in the territory controlled by Ukraine" Co-chairman of the Public Initiative "Prava Sprava", lawyer Dmytro Sniehyriov considers Reznikov's and his ministry's statements about the possibility of radioactive contamination due to the rise of groundwater in the Yunkom mine to be an exaggeration.
It was there, located near occupied Yenakiieve in Donetsk region, that an underground nuclear explosion with a yield of 0.3 kt in TNT equivalent was produced in 1979. The occupiers of the so-called "DPR" stopped pumping out mine waters, and environmentalists have long been sounding the alarm. Now there is another surge of attention to this problem. Meanwhile, as Sniehyriov emphasizes, in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, where there is an opportunity to somehow influence the situation, there are also plenty of problems. "Paying attention to the environmental situation in the temporarily occupied territories, which we cannot particularly influence at the moment, the minister somehow forgets about the controlled one. In the same Luhansk region, part of the territories is in an ecological disaster zone," the expert notes. "In particular, the mine in Zolote in Sievierodonetsk district discharges water into the Komyshuvakha River, which has already turned orange. But the allocation of budget funds - over 130 million UAH for the dewatering program - was foreseen. It is noteworthy that the amount periodically increased. Initially, it was about 80 million. Where did these funds go? Despite repeated appeals to law enforcement agencies and special services, the situation was ignored for several years. What led to such consequences." The environmental problems of the controlled part of Luhansk region, according to Dmytro Sniehyriov, are not fragmented. "It is enough to recall a series of massive fires in the controlled territory of this region. Forest plantations worth approximately 3 billion UAH were destroyed, more than 11 people died. As far as is known, no one has been brought to justice," says the lawyer. "These are examples of real ecological catastrophes that we somehow turn a blind eye to." Dmytro Sniehyriov agrees that the environmental situation in the occupied territories is extremely difficult. But there, he emphasizes, anarchy and Russian curators rule the roost. We cannot yet influence what is happening in the temporarily occupied territories. At the same time, the controlled part of the region is under attack. "The occupied part of Donbas is above sea level compared to the controlled territories. Accordingly, if radioactive contamination of waters occurs, the government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions will be the first to suffer," the expert explains. "Water will flow directly to these territories, which will be in the zone of radioactive contamination. It is possible that people will have to be relocated from the ecological disaster zone."