Anthropogenic impact of the war on the condition of surface waters of the rivers Kazennyi Torets and Kryvyi Torets within the city of Druzhkivka
Abstract
Purpose. To provide a comprehensive ecological assessment of the surface waters state of the Kryviy Torets and Kazenny Torets rivers in the city of Druzhkivka in order to determine the main anthropogenic factors of influence, in particular the consequences of war.
Methods. System analysis, statistical processing methods, analysis of retrospective dynamics, and forecasting of future trends.
Results. An analysis of water condition indicators was carried out for the monitoring posts – Kryvyi Torets River and Kazennyi Torets River. Organic pollution (BOD₅ and dissolved oxygen) in both rivers throughout the entire observation period there was a systematic excess of BOD₅ over the MPC. The concentration of dissolved oxygen repeatedly dropped below the standard, which indicates a threat to aquatic biota and disruption of self-purification processes. Nitrites constantly and significantly exceeded the standard, especially in 2005–2008. Periodic significant maxima of phosphate-ion content were recorded, which indicates eutrophication processes and the inflow of phosphates from detergents and fertilizers. Water mineralization (sulfate and chloride ions) is high, especially in 2006–2008 and 2011–2013. Since 2014, stabilization has been observed, but at a high level. Using the Forecast Sheet resource forecasting carried out, which showed good convergence of forecast and actual values. No positive dynamics in water quality were recorded — in 2024–2025 most indicators exceed the MPC.
Conclusions. The rivers Kazennyi Torets and Kryvyi Torets are in a state of persistent organic and chem- ical pollution. The overall ecological condition remains unsatisfactory, and in 2024–2025 the situation has evenworsened. Overall, the war has significantly deepened the ecological problems of these rivers. They require a comprehensive approach to restoration: modernization of treatment facilities, rehabilitation of aquatic ecosystems, and restoration of the monitoring system. Without this, there is a threat of further degradation of the region’s water resources, which will have long-term consequences for the environment and human health.
Downloads
References
Myhal, M. (2024). War and ecology: Why nature becomes a victim of armed conflict. Institute of Ana-lytics and Advocacy. Retrieved from https://iaa.org.ua/articles/vijna-ta-ekologiya-chomu-pryroda-staye-zhertvoyu-zbrojnogo-konfliktu/
Velychko, S., & Dupliak, O. (2023). Impact of full-scale aggression on water bodies as sources of water supply. Problems of Water Supply, Sewerage and Hydraulics, (45), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.32347/2524-0021.2023.45.5-14
Ministry of Health of Ukraine. (2022, May 2). Hygienic standards of water quality in water bodies for drinking, household and other needs of the population (Order No. 721). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0524-22#top
Ministry of Health of Ukraine. (2010, May 12). State sanitary norms and rules. Hygienic requirements for drinking water intended for human consumption (DSanPiN 2.2.4-171-10). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0452-10#Text
Google Earth. (n.d.). Cartographic data: Google, Maxar Technologies, Airbus. Retrieved from https://www.google.com.ua/earth/
Horoshkova, L., Menshov, O., Maslov, D., & Horoshkov, S. (2025, April). Environmental assessment of the war impact on the surface waters of the Dnipro River in Zaporizhzhia city. In XVIII International Scientific Conference “Monitoring of Geological Processes and Ecological Condition of the Environ-ment” (pp. 1–5). European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers. Retrieved from https://eage.in.ua/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mon25-052.pdf
Horoshkova, L. A., Menshov, O. I., Korniichuk, Y. D., Horoshkov, S. V., & Ryshykov, I. V. (2025). Eco-logical assessment of surface water conditions of the Danube River. Bulletin of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University Series Ecology, 32, 6–22. https://doi.org/10.26565/1992-4259-2025-32-01
Bezsonnyi, V., Ponomarenko, R., Tretyakov, O., Kalda, G., & Asotskyi, V. (2021). Monitoring of eco-logical safety of watercourses by means of oxygen indicators. Technogenic and Ecological Safety, 10(2), 75–83. https://doi.org/10.52363/2522-1892.2021.2.12
Bezsonnyi, V. L., Tretyakov, O. V., Kravchuk, A. M., & Statsenko, Yu. F. (2016). Prediction of the oxy-gen regime of the Siverskyi Donets River by mathematical modeling methods. Construction, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering. Series: Life Safety, (93), 113–119. Retrieved from http://srd.pgasa.dp.ua:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3632
Nekos, A., Boiaryn, M., Lugowska, M., Tsos, O., & Netrobchuk, I. (2021). Assessment of the ecological state of rivers in the Western Bug basin using the macrophyte index (MIR). Bulletin of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series “Geology. Geography. Ecology”, (54), 316–328. https://doi.org/10.26565/2410-7360-2021-54-24
Bezsonnyi, V., Tretyakov, O., Khalmuradov, B., & Ponomarenko, R. (2017). Examining the dynamics and modeling of oxygen regime of Chervonooskil water reservoir. Eastern European Journal of Enter-prise Technologies, 5/10(89), 32–38. Retrieved from http://repositsc.nuczu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/5546
Bezsonnyi, V., & Nekos, A. (2022, November 15–18). Modeling of the oxygen regime of the Chervo-nooskilsky reservoir. In 16th International Conference “Monitoring of Geological Processes and Eco-logical Condition of the Environment”. Kyiv, Ukraine. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.2022580216
Bezsonnyi, V. (2022). Selection of indicative indicators of ecological condition of surface source of water supply. Municipal Economy of Cities (Technical Science), 3(170), 26–34. https://doi.org/10.33042/2522-1809-2022-3-170-26-34
Horoshkova, L., Zaitsev, V., Ryshykov, I., & Shovkoplias, T. (2025, April). Environmental impacts of dredging operations on the condition of surface waters of the Danube River. In XVIII International Sci-entific Conference “Monitoring of Geological Processes and Ecological Condition of the Environ-ment” (pp. 1–5). European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers. Retrieved from https://eage.in.ua/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mon25-189.pdf
Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. (2024, June 10). Sanitary-epidemiological situation in Donetsk region as of 10.06.2024. Retrieved from https://dn.cdc.gov.ua/articles/sanitarno-epidemichna-sytuatsiya-v-donetskij-oblasti-stanom-na-10-06-2024/
Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. (2025, September 1). Sanitary-epidemiological situation in Donetsk region as of 01.09.2025. Retrieved from https://dn.cdc.gov.ua/articles/sanitarno-epidemichna-sytuatsiya-v-donetskij-oblasti-stanom-na-01-09-2025/
Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. (2025, August 4). Sanitary-epidemiological situation in Donetsk region as of 04.08.2025. Retrieved from https://dn.cdc.gov.ua/articles/sanitarno-epidemichna-sytuatsiya-v-donetskij-oblasti-stanom-na-04-08-2025/
Copyright (c) 2025 Horoshkovа L. A., Menshov O. I., Nekos A. N., Korniichuk Y. D., Khaduskina K. V.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication of this work under the terms of a license Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
