Ukrainians are visiting the UK to learn how to clean up soil after the Russian invasion.
Research estimates millions of hectares of Ukrainian soil are contaminated with heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and bombs.
Damaged and destroyed buildings can’t be rebuilt where the ground may pose a danger to the people living in and using them. Chemicals in the soil can corrode buildings and even cause fires or explosions.
Crop production is also impacted. This represents 30% of Ukraine’s wealth, providing grains and oilseeds to the rest of the world. Contamination makes it hard to grow crops and makes them unsafe for use.
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Academics from Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (PNU) were invited to the UK by the University of East Anglia (UEA). The two universities were twinned in 2022.
The team visited contaminated sites Angmering and Tipner to see methods of soil cleanup used in the UK and discuss new research.
The universities hope to continue working together in the future.
