Transformation of habitats of birds listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine
in the de-occupied territories of the nature reserve fund in the north and northeast of the country as a result of the russian-Ukrainian war
Vadym Yanenko,https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1241-1929
National Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine)
Cite as
Yanenko, V. (2026). Transformation of habitats of birds listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine in the de-occupied territories of the nature reserve fund in the north and northeast of the country as a result of the russian-Ukrainian war. GEO&BIO, 28, 114-126.
doi: https://doi.org/10.53452/gb2810
pdf: G&B №28-2026_114-126_Yanenko.pdf
Abstract
The article analyses habitat transformation affecting rare bird species in de-occupied protected areas (NRF) of northern and northeastern Ukraine, which are critical for avifaunal life cycles. The study covers eight sites with a total area of 424,414 hectares that were severely impacted by the full-scale russian invasion in 2022. It evaluates the condition of ecosystems after the liberation of territories that had been under temporary occupation. Because of extensive mine contamination, unexploded ordnance, and strict security restrictions, conventional fieldwork and standard bird census techniques were not feasible. Therefore, the study applies an integrated methodological approach combining remote monitoring with retrospective data analysis. This includes long-term monitoring records from reserve scientific departments, data from the Red Data Book of Ukraine, high-resolution satellite imagery, and operational fire monitoring systems (notably EFFIS). Such an approach enabled comparison between pre-war ecological baselines and the large-scale landscape transformations that occurred during the occupation period. The findings reveal profound and unprecedented impacts on biodiversity. Key drivers include extensive habitat destruction caused by artillery shelling and large-scale fires. For example, 3,200 hectares burned in the Drevlyansky Nature Reserve, while more than 22,171 hectares were affected in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, including critical nesting habitats and migratory stopover sites for rare bird species. Persistent disturbance from explosions, heavy military equipment, and low-altitude aircraft resulted in mass abandonment of breeding sites and widespread reproductive failure in 2022. Additionally, gamekeeper reports documented cases of poaching by occupying forces. Long-term ecological risks are further intensified by landmine contamination and the construction of fortifications, which have damaged soil cover. In areas such as the Chornobyl zone, this has also contributed to local increases in radiation exposure. Comprehensive monitoring of species populations and the development of restoration strategies are urgently required; however, their implementation will only be possible after complete demining and mitigation of the environmental damage caused by the war.
Key words
avifauna, de-occupation, Nature Reserve Fund, russian-Ukrainian war.
Correspondence to: Vadym Yanenko; National Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 15 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, Kyiv 01054, Ukraine; e-mail: ornithologist.ua@gmail.com.
Article info
Submitted: 26.04.2026. Revised: 26.05.2026. Accepted: 28.05.2026
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