Assessment of Ecosystems Damages Caused by Russian War against Ukraine

The question of the impact of war on ecosystems still remains secondary in the internal and external policy of states, society and the agenda of international organizations. From the point of view of losses in monetary terms, the values of ecosystem damages obtained in the work, which are a consequence of the impact of hostilities on the environment, correspond to the annual budgets of the largest countries in the world or exceed them. The presented calculations significantly exceed the known normative methods, the use of which in the conditions of war is limited in space and time. Objective difficulties associated with the uncertainty of many processes of the development of ecological systems and their reaction to the multifactorial impact of war are also significant limitations. Therefore, as part of the study, a method of assessing the impact of war on the environment is proposed, which is based on the patterns of energy flows in ecosystems from the moment it is binding by producers. This made it possible to take into account in the calculations the principle of functional integrity of the ecological system, according to which the destruction or damage of the components of a functionally whole environment will necessarily cause negative phenomena in the development of ecological systems. The results are presented in the form of real values of ecological losses in energy and monetary equivalents, as consequences of the loss of ecosystem services. As the results of the research show, the minimum amount of damage to ecosystems from Russian tanks is 43,500 USD per day. Environmental damage from Russian fighter jets has been estimated at $1.5 billion per week since the start of the war. Noise from military operations causes losses of at least 2.3 billion US dollars per year. The obtained results create prerequisites for improving the system of ensuring environmental safety at the local, state, and international levels and transferring the obtained solutions into safety-shaping practice.

Modern experience of low-coal seams underground mining in Ukraine

Coal is the main energy resource in Ukraine. However geotechnological aspects of coal seams development and Ukrainian crisis have a negative influence on the mining industry. This article analyzes the experience in the development of very low and low-coal seams with 0.7–1.0 m thickness, as well as advanced technological solutions that allowed private coal enterprises, despite the difficult situation in the country, to maintain sufficient(more than 75% of all production) level of steam coal extraction for Ukrainian society. Given that Ukrainian's mining sector development is a huge task, we hope this review will add some discussions into the ongoing conversation.

Measures and Strategic Conception of Japan to Deal with the Russia–Ukraine Crisis

After the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, Japan wasted no time in advancing its national strategy and actively promoted shuttle diplomacy with the United States(U.S.), Europe, East Asia, and neighboring countries of Ukraine around sanctions against Russia based on strategic considerations and the goal of maximizing national interests. Japan regarded this conflict as an important opportunity for an international strategic game, in an attempt to move and overturn the postwar international order and reconstruct the new global order with the U.S., Europe, and Japan as the core countries dominating the military, science and technology, and economic spheres. In response to the crisis, Japan made a brief policy adjustment—from the initial hesitation to the imposition of active sanctions and pressure on Russia—to reverse the passive situation on the issue of the Four Northern Islands and weaken Russia’s strength. Japan also took the opportunity to promote the “China threat theory”;strengthen the quadrilateral mechanism between the U.S., Japan, India, and Australia;provoke regional confrontation;and try to gain a new Cold War dividend.

Nature-Resource Potential of the Carpathian Region of Ukraine and Specificities of Its Use by Farming Enterprises

Method of nature-resource potential cost revaluation is suggested. The method proceeds from natural crop yield of Ukrainian lands provided that crops rotation is observed and lands are operated only mechanically with the use of no fertilizer. Nature-resource potential of Ukraine and its Carpathian Region are assessed in the aspect of administrative oblasts. Specificities of nature-resource potential’s use by farming enterprises are characterized. Peculiarities that effected upon formation of farming in Ukraine are reviewed. Indices of land availability are presented.

Consensus on management of hepatitis C virus infection in resource-limited Ukraine and Commonwealth of Independent States regions

Globally, 69.6 million individuals were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in 2016. Of the six major HCV genotypes (GT), the most predominant one is GT1, worldwide. The prevalence of HCV in Central Asia, which includes most of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), has been estimated to be 5.8% of the total global burden. The predominant genotype in the CIS and Ukraine regions has been reported to be GT1, followed by GT3. Inadequate HCV epidemiological data, multiple socio-economic barriers, and the lack of regionspecific guidelines have impeded the optimal management of HCV infection in this region. In this regard, a panel of regional experts in the field of hepatology convened to discuss and provide recommendations on the diagnosis, treatment, and pre-, on-, and posttreatment assessment of chronic HCV infection and to ensure the optimal use of cost-effective antiviral regimens in the region. A comprehensive evaluation of the literature along with expert recommendations for the management of GT1-GT6 HCV infection with the antiviral agents available in the region has been provided in this review. This consensus document will help guide clinical decision-making during the management of HCV infection, further optimizing treatment outcomes in these regions.

旧词新话:Ukraine还是the Ukraine?

英语中,某些国家由于语言上和文化上的原因,其名称即国名中包括一个定冠词,如:the Congo,the Dominican Republic,theNetherlands,the Ukraine,the UnitedStates,the Soviet Union…已经形成习惯,相安无事了。但世事有常也无常,至少在目前来说,the Soviet Union,噫嘻,已不复存在矣。在两霸称雄的年代里,笔者有一次把“不问美国还是苏联……”译成“Be it the US or the SU…”时,规规矩矩地用了“the”的情景。

Some Aspects of Waste Management of Ukraine

The development of waste management can be considered in some way dictates of time. Ukraine has unique conditions of the secondary usage of natural resources, which is particularly important given to the increasing generation of waste and its progressive accumulation. The relevant provisions relate to the industrial sector as well as areas of consumption. However, for most of recyclable materials is still low. The formation of market relations in Ukraine contributed to enhance this process and relevant field of entrepreneurship. Now the formation of a separate segment is taking place. The state and the perspectives of the development of collection, accumulation and recycling of waste stream have been analyzed in the article. Conceptual position of the legislative regulation of this field is defined. The ways of improving the legal support of secondary raw materials have been defined. The peculiarities of waste management of Ukraine are considered.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Challenges and Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccinations in Ukraine and Eastern Europe

Objectives: To identify the obstacles and issues that hinder effective cancer prevention efforts in Ukraine. The study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the barriers to cancer prevention, including both infrastructure and behavioral factors, and identify potential solutions to address these challenges. Study Design: Comprehensive literature review. Methods: The following databases were searched: National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health). The keywords used in the search included “Cervical Cancer”, “Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (HPV)”, “Ukraine”, “Eastern Europe”, “Healthcare Infrastructure in Disasters”, “Cervical Cancer Prevention”, “Pap Smear”, and “HPV Testing”. Results: A total of 3500 articles were screened. A total of 65 articles met the inclusion criteria. Limited public awareness and limited access to vaccination and screening, combined with inadequate treatment facilities lead to higher rates of cervical cancer. The COVID pandemic, war with Russia, and the Chernobyl disaster are significant factors for the low level of vaccination in Ukraine. Conclusion: The prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in Ukraine face significant challenges due to the inadequate HPV vaccination rates and screening by cytology. Efforts to improve funding and increase education of both the population and health care providers are necessary to increase interventions such as HPV vaccination, cervical cytology, and HPV testing to reduce cervical cancer rates in Ukraine.

Geothermal Energy Production Potential from Oil and Gas Fields in Western Ukraine

Western Ukraine as well as Crimea Peninsula is well known for their geothermal potential.The classic low enthalpy geothermal project is based on the construction of a binary power plant,and includes recycling of water through one or several doublets of wells;produced hot water is directed to a heat exchanger(vaporizer),in which a secondary(working)fluid with low boiling point and high vapor pressure vaporizes and rotates a turbine to produce electricity.The highest risk for the project is associated with drilling new wells,which may not hit the target or not have the required productivity.Western Ukraine is one of the oldest oil and gas production regions in Europe.The majority of the fields are on a late stage of the development that is characterized with high produced volumes of water that after separation is being reinjected back for pressure support.In this study,we evaluated the possibility of geothermal energy production,extracted from water that is produced together with oil and gas,based on numerical reservoir simulation models for a typical reservoir setting.

Risk Assessment Capacity Building Program in Zaporizhzhia Ukraine: Emissions Inventory Construction, Ambient Modeling, and Hazard Results

Historically, Ukraine has been a major source of industrial production for the former Soviet Union and the source of pollution associated with an aging industrial infrastructure. The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Ukrainian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) entered into partnership to develop Ukrainian expertise and capacity in risk assessment so that Ukraine could more effectively use its National and Regional Environmental Protection Funds and set priorities for cleanup and regulation. Ukrainian scientists, local officials, and EPA consultants conducted a pilot study in the heavily industrialized Zaporizhzhia Oblast so that the process, analytical tools, and approach for a risk assessment could be developed for and tailored to Ukrainian needs. As a first step, site-specific information was obtained from multiple sources of air pollution and an emissions inventory of air pollution developed. Efforts by local officials were critical for emissions inventory construction. After refinements were made to the inventory, Ukrainian scientists then performed exposure modeling using this information so that ambient concentrations of pollutants could be estimated. 11 industry types (i.e., enterprises) were identified as a major emission source. Results of the modeling effort demonstrated that emissions estimates of particulate matter (as measured by particles of less than 10 micron diameter or “PM10”) and a number of carcinogens were consistent with those from other cities with high concentrations of metallurgical industries in former Soviet Union countries, and were above safety standards. Hazard information was gathered from international databases for each of the estimated pollutants. Using such data, prioritization and identification of potential health concerns can be made, but most importantly, the expertise and experience gained from the pilot allowed for continued support of risk assessment capacity building in the Ukraine and support by the World Bank.

The Formation of Russia-US-EU-China Multipolarity Relations under the Scenario of Ukraine Crisis in the Changing World

This paper is to analyze the changing formation of international security and economic system in the context of geopolitical expansion under the scenario of the Ukraine crisis. The author attempts to destruct the different interactions among Russia, EU, US, and China, founding that through the West economic sanctions the US are obstructing Russia＇s Eurasian policy and EU-Russian trade structures in many areas, especially in the energy sector. The US rebalancing policy might finish under the scenario of improved Russia-China relations because the US might improve their relations with China as well to implement their containment against Russia, whose geopolitical expansion toward Arctic Ocean, and with its developing the Russian Siberia, the Russian Far East Region as part of its global strategic deployment. Russia＇s global deployment is carried out through the integrated mechanism, such as, SCO, BRICS, and Eurasian Economic Union which will start to function in the January of 2015. China seems to be the biggest winner in this geopolitical struggle, because the new scenario of international events, such as Ukraine crisis and extremism of IS movement in Syria and Iraq have changed the target of NATO in the short-term period. The direction of intemational security is changing from the Cold War to anti-extremism-terrorism combat. Therefore, the new direction for Russia-US-EU-China reformulating their security relations will have the long-term influence on regional integration. Its seems to be that the information war and propaganda will be undergoing in the process of this geopolitical expansion gambling that can be seen in the new waves of the West economic sanctions against Russia and new threats from the international terrorism. In this paper, the author does not focus on the informational propaganda but tries to analyze the different characteristics of ambition and interactionamong Russia, EU, US, and China in the scenario of Ukraine crisis in the changing world.

Geochemical Characterization of Novokrivoyrog Metavolcanics: Tectonic Implications and Relationship with the Early Proterozoic Banded Iron Formation (BIF) of Krivoy Rog in Ukraine

The geochemical characterization of Novokrivoyrog metavolcanics (2.2 Ga) and Krivoy Rog iron ores (1.8 Ga) in Ukraine represent an important tool for the understanding of their genesis and tectono-magmatic evolution. The petrological classification of the metavolcanics on SiO2/(Zr-TiO2) and (Zr-TiO2)/(Nb/Y) Harker-type diagrams shows similarities to subalkaline andesitic basalts. An additional classification of the basalts on TAS (Na2O + K2O/SiO2) and AFM (FeO-MgO-Na2O + K2O) diagrams exhibits a variable magmatic character from calc-alkaline to tholeiitic. The distribution of High Field Strength Elements, (HSFE: Ti, Zr, Y, Hf, Nb), V, Cr, and Rare Earth Elements (REE) in most of the rocks is close to calc-alkaline basalts (CAB) and can be compared to Precambrian mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) where high thermal (>250°C) basaltic alteration is intensive under pH conditions between 2 and 4. These contributed to the deposition of the Krivoy Rog BIFs. Indeed REE distribution patterns of the BIFs suggest that they can be subdivided into shales and shaly BIFs (rich in LREEs since their detrital and clastic inputs are much higher) with (La/Yb)N > 1 as indication of clastic inputs;chert and cherty BIFs showing positive Eu anomaly with (La/Yb)N 1 emphasizes post-depositional effects related to the enrichment of light REEs over heavy REEs with a positive Eu anomaly. The distribution of REE patterns of Krivoy Rog BIFs can finally be compared to Precambrian iron formations of mixed submarine hydrothermal fluids and seawater origin which correspond to the MORB signature of the Novokrivoyrog metavolcanics.

The Transformation of German Security Policy in the Context of the Russia–Ukraine Crisis

Germany has recently taken multiple actions to adjust its security policy: for instance, promoting re-militarization, increasing foreign military intervention and overseas operations, and adopting measures to comprehensively safeguard security in the domains of energy, supply chain, and ideology. Externally, such moves result directly from the threat of a hot war emanating from the Russia–Ukraine crisis. Germany is severely deficient in hard power and the rules and order on which it previously relied are proving increasingly ineffective. The nation is also witnessing a sharply rising sense of insecurity as its inter-system competition with nonWestern countries intensifies. Internally, the present policy shift represents a continuation of German foreign policy transformations initiated during the Merkel era. This change is strongly driven by the new ruling coalition, especially the Green Party, and is staunchly supported by the public. In the future, Germany will probably further normalize its military, intensify its confrontations with non-Western countries, and diversify its means of comprehensively safeguarding security. However, security-related policy transformation processes will be time-consuming and Germany’s investments will not immediately pay off. Traditionally, Germany tends toward the pragmatic and balanced implementation of policies. Thus, it is less likely to pursue military hegemony than to increasingly assume security responsibilities within the Western alliance.

Impact of the Russia–Ukraine Crisis on Global Food Security

The Russia–Ukraine crisis has hit hard the grain production and exports of both countries,weakening their positions on global food markets.Moreover,the crisis has resulted in a shortage of fertilizer supply and a sharp increase in fertilizer prices.Consequently,global food production is declining,prices are hitting record highs,and market structures are shifting.Overall,global food insecurity is worsening,which,on top of several other factors,could become permanent as an aftermath of the Russia–Ukraine crisis.Therefore,food insecurity has become a topical issue in global governance.Spiking food prices and the ensuing political turbulence in vulnerable countries have altered the balance of strength between developed and developing countries,aggravating the existing imbalance between them.Furthermore,major food-producing countries are using food as a weapon to increase their influence in a fresh round of strategic competition,adding more uncertainties to the once-in-a-century changes shaping the world today.

Dominant and Subdominant Types of Nature Resources in Ukraine: Regional Analysis

Geographic specificities of allocation of basic (dominant) and second significant (subdo-minant) types of nature resources of Ukraine are disclosed in the aspect of 278 Ukrainian natural (physic-geographic) rayon. Major territorial combinations of nature resources formed in the state’s natural regions are exposed.

China and Ukraine Seek Deeper Cooperation on Agriculture, Infrastructure and Energy

China and Ukraine are looking forward to deepening their cooperation on sectors including agriculture,infrastructure and energy to achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes,representatives from the two countries said at an economic and trade forum on November8.

Philosophy of War:the Ukraine

The Ukraine war makes the philosophy of warfare highly relevant.But the philosophers of war are few in numbers despite the numerous war mankind has experienced.The Ukraine warfare is not rational in terms of Clausewitz’concepts of strategy and tactics.

Nuclear Power in the Fuel and Energy Complex of Ukraine

Nuclear power is a powerful and effective energy branch in Ukraine. There are currently 4 active nuclear power stations （NPS） and 13 operational VVER energy units, producing a total power of 11880 MW, in the country. According to the data collected from the International Agency of Nuclear-Power Energy, Ukraine is in seventh place for the largest supply of uranium on the planet. The use of nuclear power in Ukraine includes： extraction and processing uranium ore, production of UF6, production of zirconia rental and purveyances from a zirconia alloy, production of heat-radiating collections, storage of exhaust nuclear fuel and nuclear wastes. The realisation of uranium isotopic enrichment is the main problem in the structure of organisation in nuclear fuel production in Ukraine. This country has a unique station, non-operative Chemobyl NPS, where different types of wastes are located. Two factories are currently being built there in order to process the liquid and solid radio-active wastes. In perspective, Ukrainian nuclear-power energy will be enriched with new nuclear-power units and security systems to ensure safe manufacturing.

War and Peace in Ukraine.A Legal-Linguistic Perspective

The current research overlaps a linguistic and a legal analysis of public international law in the Ukrainian case.Based on both official documents and public declarations,it explains the grounds for the wide range of understandings that the two common concepts-peace and war-may be bearing depending of the angle of looking at the matter and depending on the actor invoking them.The study develops the reasons likely to have been considered by President Putin when insisting to refer to the Russian military action started in Ukraine in February 2022 as“special military operation”instead of“war”and the cardinal difference in terms of legal impact for such a linguistic choice.It also builds on the elements which could serve as a basis for achieving a deal in obtaining peace in Ukraine,while tackling on the possible geopolitical,public communication and diplomatic hurdles,and offering clues for strategic analysis of the matter.