Improving the methodology for assessing damage caused by soil pollution for effective public management in emergency and war conditions in Ukraine

doi:10.26565/1992-2337-2025-1-26

Yuriy Yefimov State Environmental Inspectorate in Kharkiv Region, 6 Bakulina str., 6, Kharkiv, 61166, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2848-5583
Roman Sobol Education and Research Institute of Public Administration of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3176-3807
Bohdan Matisko V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2672-1813

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/1992-2337-2025-1-26

Keywords: damage assessment methodology, soil degradation, armed aggression, public administration, ecological losses, soil restoration, martial law

Abstract

The article addresses the urgent need to refine existing methodologies for assessing the damage caused to Ukrainian soils as a result of emergencies and the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Based on a critical analysis of the current legal framework and domestic and international scientific publications, the authors identify significant shortcomings of the official Methodology No. 167 adopted by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. These include insufficient consideration of different types of soil degradation, weak scientific justification for key coefficients, and the lack of a comprehensive cost-based approach.

The article proposes an integrated assessment model based on six degradation categories-mechanical, physical, chemical, physicochemical, biological, and loss of ecosystem services-where damage is calculated through the estimated costs required to restore soil functionality. The authors emphasize the need to include costs related to research, monitoring, sampling, and remote sensing in the overall damage assessment. These adjustments aim to enhance the precision of environmental accounting, strengthen the foundation for international legal claims against the aggressor state, and develop resilient public governance mechanisms for restoring natural resources.

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Author Biographies

Yuriy Yefimov, State Environmental Inspectorate in Kharkiv Region, 6 Bakulina str., 6, Kharkiv, 61166, Ukraine

Doctor of Philosophy, First Deputy Head of the State Environmental Inspectorate in Kharkiv Region

Roman Sobol, Education and Research Institute of Public Administration of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine

PhD in Public Administration, Associate Professor of the Public Policy Department, Educational and Scientific Institute «Institute of Public Administration», V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

Bohdan Matisko, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine

PhD student at the Educational and Scientific Institute of Ecology, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

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