This project facilitated the coverage of warfare ecology issues by Ukrainian journalists through a short-form training/mentoring programme. A total of 48 pieces of content were produced and published. The authors highlight the following five aspects of the project:
1- A base for future investigations
This project facilitated the coverage of warfare ecology issues by Ukrainian journalists through an online discussion and a small grants programme. As a result, 48 pieces of content were produced and published, drawing much-needed attention to ecological issues in Ukraine during the war. This has created a foundation for future research into the environmental impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
2- Findings and impact
For example, one of the participants wrote an article entitled 'Drop by drop: how contaminated water kills', demonstrating how the citizens of Kropyvnytskyi discovered that drinking water from local wells and springs was having a harmful impact on their health. Many readers, primarily mothers, contacted the editorial office for more information. These women also told journalists that, at the maternity hospital, they were asked to sign a special document obliging them to give their newborn children only filtered water due to water contamination in Kropyvnytskyi's wells and springs.
At the same time, three investigations on the negative impact of the Russian invasion on the environmental situation in Mykolaiv Oblast were conducted and published by local media (the Suspilne Mykolayiv TV channel, the Hubernsʹkyi tyzhden and the Yuzhnaya pravda)
3- Challenges
Despite the challenges caused by the team’s stay in the temporarily occupied territory, they succeeded in preparing exclusive media materials filled with comments, photos, and even caption videos. Also, it is worth noting that 11 out of 48 materials prepared within the small grants program include comments from experts who participated in an online discussion conducted in May.
4- Feedback
After the program, the participants left a positive feedback. For example:
“Our articles help to attract attention to the current environmental challenges and threats inside and outside Ukraine”.
“As a continuation of my materials topic covered within the Program, I’m currently preparing new articles on the environmental damage caused by Russia’s missile attacks in Vinnytsia Oblast. Thank you.”
