Methodical aspects of the assessment of the state of subsurface contamination with petroleum products caused by the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
Authors: Havryliuk Ruslan , Shpak Olena , Lohvynenko Olha , Zapolskiy Igor 
Published: February 2025

Formulation of the problem. As a result of Russian military aggression, a significant number of petroleum product supply objects were destroyed in Ukraine, which led to the formation of new sources of subsurface contamination. Such sources cause significant damage to the environment, the assessment of which is one of the key priorities among the entire range of environmental impacts of Russian aggression. The first stage is the assessment of the state of the environment, which includes the determination of objects, nature, scale and features of subsurface contamination. Its results serve as the basis for further stages of damage assessment: development of a monitoring network and restoration measures, the total costs of which should form the basis for a monetary assessment of the damage.

The purpose of the article is to develop a methodology for the environmental and geological survey of petroleum contamination sources taking into account the consequences of the destruction of petroleum product supply facilities as a result of military operations.

The scope of the ecological and geological survey of the petroleum contamination sources is determined by the purpose of its implementation, the size of a survey area and adjacent territories under the influence of contamination, the necessary accuracy of forecasting contamination spreading, and determining the risk to humans and the environment.

Main Results. This article describes the methodological aspects of the environmental and geological survey of the sources of subsurface contamination with petroleum products, developed on the basis of our long-term scientific research. The general principles of conducting the ecological and geological survey are described, and the scope and structure of research are proposed at all stages of the ecological and geological survey of petroleum contamination sources: search, exploration and exploration during remedial actions. Three classes of ecological danger of petroleum contamination sources are distinguished. The 1st class refers to contaminated areas where the threat of an above-standard content of petroleum products already exists or it is expected in the next 10 years, which requires urgent remedial actions, including the localization and/or elimination of petroleum contamination sources. The 2nd class of danger refers to territories where the threat of exceeding the regulatory level of petroleum products and the task of economic or social damage is expected after 10 years, and first of all, it is necessary to carry out works on the localization and/or elimination of contamination sources and regular observations. The 3rd danger class includes territories where petrole- um contamination does not pose a significant danger but such a threat may arise when conditions change. In this case, it is recommended to observe the development of petroleum contamination. The cases of environmental and geological surveys conducted in the area of the international airport "Boryspil" and Bila Tserkva town, which are potentially comparable to the sources formed as a result of military aggression of the Russian Federation in terms of the scale of contamination, are considered.

Conclusions. The developed principles of ecological and geological survey of the sources of subsurface contamination with petroleum products can be used at many petroleum product supply facilities that were destroyed as a result of Russian military aggression.