Monitoring the Black Sea During Wartime: Experts Discuss New Findings and the Future of Environmental Recovery in Ukraine

Ukraine's environmental recovery is inseparable from the country's broader reconstruction. As the impacts of Russia's full-scale invasion continue to affect ecosystems across the country, reliable environmental monitoring has become essential for assessing damage, informing policy decisions, and supporting long-term recovery.

On 5 June, Odesa hosted a roundtable dedicated to the findings of recent research on water resources in the Odesa region and the future of marine ecosystem monitoring in the Black Sea. The event brought representatives of the State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-Western District, the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, the Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Ecology of the Sea, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the NGO INPOLIT.

Strengthening Environmental Monitoring Through International Partnership

During the event, NGO INPOLIT presented progress on its joint project with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which focuses on strengthening the monitoring of water resources in Ukraine's Black Sea region and building the capacity of public environmental inspectors.

Implemented in close cooperation with the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine and its regional offices, the project aims to enhance Ukraine's ability to conduct environmental monitoring even under wartime conditions. By improving access to reliable scientific data, the initiative supports evidence-based environmental governance, facilitates damage assessment, and contributes to the country's long-term ecological recovery.

New Scientific Evidence Highlights Environmental Risks

One of the key presentations focused on the ecological assessment of the Tylihul Estuary, delivered by the Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Ecology of the Sea.

Using modern geochemical methods and European environmental standards, researchers identified several significant environmental concerns:

• the presence of organochlorine pesticides included in the "Dirty Dozen" under the Stockholm Convention;

• 17 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds detected out of the 32 analysed;

• all 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) identified, with phenanthrene and fluoranthene concentrations substantially exceeding regulatory thresholds;

• ongoing military activities identified as a significant factor contributing to additional environmental risks for marine ecosystems.

The findings underline the importance of continuous environmental monitoring to detect pollution at early stages in order to protect biodiversity and public health.

From Scientific Research to Practical Action

Participants stressed that effective monitoring of marine ecosystems requires close cooperation among government authorities, scientific institutions, international partners, and civil society.

The roundtable resulted in several practical recommendations, including:

• conducting systematic monitoring of water bodies in the Odesa region at least four times per year, subject to seasonal variation and security conditions;

• expanding the use of innovative monitoring technologies, including drones, automated monitoring stations, and satellite imagery;

• broadening research beyond sediment analysis to include water quality and biological components;

• developing a joint cooperation programme for 2026–2027 and mobilising international support to establish a continuous monitoring system for the Black Sea and the seven largest estuaries of the Odesa region.

Environmental Monitoring as a Foundation for Ukraine's Recovery

Reliable environmental data are essential not only for documenting the environmental consequences of war, but also for shaping effective recovery policies, restoring damaged ecosystems, and aligning Ukraine's environmental governance with European standards.

NGO INPOLIT remains committed to strengthening environmental governance, promoting science-based decision-making, and expanding international cooperation to protect and restore Ukraine's natural resources.