Space-time analysis of the impact of military operations on the territory of the Emerald Network within Kharkiv region
Abstract
The purpose of the article is to analyse the state of the Emerald Network within the Kharkiv region in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The article briefly describes the history of the formation of the Emerald Network of the Kharkiv region and provides a modern list of Emerald Network sites, according to the data of the Standing Committee of the Council of Europe, which includes 38 sites with a total area of 3830 thousand square km. And 3 sites that are substantiated and included in the “shadow lists” of further expansion of the Network.
Main content. The article presents an analysis of the state of the Emerald Network territories within the Kharkiv region in wartime conditions. The analysis was performed for three key dates, taking into account changes in the front line within the region: April 3, 2022 (when about 30% of the region was occupied), September 16, 2022 (after the successful counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the liberation of almost the entire territory of the region), and May 26, 2025 (the current stage with the enemy advancing in the Kupyansk and Chuhuiv districts throughout the period from September 2022). For each of the indicated dates, maps were drawn up with the current front line superimposed, indicating the occupied and liberated territories, which allowed for a spatiotemporal analysis of the impact of military operations on the Emerald Network territory and identifying those sites that were under occupation, on the front line or in close proximity to it. Such analysis made it possible to identify territories that were affected by various forms of war – both direct and indirect.
Conclusions. The analysis showed that 48% (1830 thousand square km) of the Emerald Network of the region were affected by military actions of varying degrees at different periods. And these are to a greater extent the most valuable areas of the steppe biogeographical region of Europe. The sites within the Siversky Donets and Oskil valleys were most affected, and these are the largest in area and the most diverse in terms of the number of species and habitats. The analysis of the impact of the war on unique nature conservation areas made it possible to identify potential areas for further research and monitoring.
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References
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