One of the most complex and new problems in conservation that gained weight in 2016, was the unauthorized exploitation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine territories nature reserve fund (NRF) for military purposes. Cases of Oleshkivski sand and steppe Tarutynskym scandal giving place unless the tragedy at Hrybovytskomu smittyezhvalyschi in Lviv. Hundreds of publications in Ukrainian and international media … After December 23 the Verkhovna Rada Defense Minister S. Poltorak people’s representatives handed antypremiyu “disgusting Year”. However, it makes sense to more thoroughly analyze what happened during the year in this unexpected struggle against environmentalists Defense.
in addition to the physical damage to the soil, destruction of vegetation and animal deaths, due to attacks
contaminated soils are considerably number of chemical compounds: cyanide, formaldehyde, aluminum oxide, as well as a large number of identified and unidentified toxic organics1.
In places where there were active hostilities, the concentration of heavy metals in soils increases to a life-threatening level. Environmentalists EPL crater was found in titanium, vanadium, lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, strontium, manganese, iron, copper, zirconium, cobalt, gallium, and even rare earth metal yttrium. All this means that military activities have an impact on the environmental security of all of us and therefore should be closely each.
It should be noted that the criterion of the environmental impact of military training differs little from the actual fighting. However, reports of military activity in maintenance facilities naturally reserve fund or other exploitation of protected land in the controlled state of Ukraine this year has increased significantly. EPL team had to fight illegal activities of the Ministry of Defense, because none are listed in this article, the action is not agreed or administration of territories of nature reserve fund or from the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine. Never conducted environmental assessment and public discussion of the possible effects of such dilnosti.
During the year, we could not achieve any position of public authorities on issues related to illegal activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in protected areas in a peaceful part of the country. A case of illegal acts lot. We have prepared a map of “problem” areas:
ICO “Environment-People-Law” received a letter Defense (№343 / 1 / 10,803 of 12.12.2016 years), which allows us to understand that the struggle was not in vain.
National Park “Oleshkivski Sands”
Back in October 2015 on the website of National Park “Oleshkivski sand” instead of greeting page was posted Park management statement that its territory seized by military
2 3.
The management of the military unit that carries out activities of military training, did not respond to the request of the Kherson Regional Forestry and Hunting of the Office informed the State Ecological Inspectorate in Kherson region4.
Thus, the State ecological inspection, even after repeated requests NGOs5,
stated that the reason for missing the inspection6.
In October 2015 the territory Kozachelagerska arena Oleshkivski sands were introduced divisions Armed Forces without coordination with the management of the national park7.
At the request of NPP leadership to the Ministry, Minborony, National Security Council8
and committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine9 answers were substantially provided.
Armed Forces of Ukraine actually banned stay inspectors and specialists park on its territory, leading to stop working process and operation of the park as a whole. State Guard Service NRF can without endangering their own lives to fulfill their functions.
Sands was the first time Oleshkivskireserve declared back in 1928,but it only lasted 2 years to 1930-го10.
In the postwar period the area was transferred to the state forest lands Tsurupinsk forestry. In the lease, the land was used as a testing ground for the bombing – the so-called ex-48 aircraft Range “Kherson”. The validity of an act of war is over, they refused to renew it in 2010 by the Decree of President of Ukraine11 was createdNational Park.
More Articles in historyhttp://life.pravda.com.ua/columns/2016/05/4/211839/
After the war in the East of Ukraine, forgetting that the lease expired 15 years ago,Oleshkivski military returned to the sand, not making out any documents for the use of the territory.
12 April 2016 EPL environmentalists explored territory Park “Oleshkivski sands” and found numerous violations: massive unauthorized logging12;
working in the field of tank maneuvers land completely Ridden tank tracks in an area of many hectares13;
Security signs NPP destroyed (used as a target) as a viewing platform; around national parks, located in the center of the sandy arena, set the target to avoid projectiles flew military firing nezapovidnoyi of sand14
in the middle of the NPP.
In June 2016 International Charitable Organization “Environment-People-Law” and ECG “Pechenegi” gathered over 200 signatures of workers scientists and institutions to NRF President of Ukraine15 asking:
1.
Stop tuition at the Oleshkivski sand and open areas to visit.
2.
Provide withdrawal from their territory and to conduct military contingent to identify possible relocation (eg, plausible proposal Kherson University scientists – to horilnyka the same Tsyurupinsk forestry, a few kilometers west of Oleshkivski sands)16.
3.
To initiate an internal investigation and identify those responsible for the invasion raider units of the Armed Forces to Oleshkivski sands; identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes under Art. 252 of the Criminal Code.
4.
To instruct the State Ecological Inspectorate of Ukraine to hold calculation of losses caused by unauthorized exercise the said State.
5.
Consider expanding NPP “Oleshkivski sands” according to the motion for its creation – in the area of 19 000 hectares.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine appealed to the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko request to facilitate registration of land ie.. military range “Kherson”, by the abolition of greater and most important part of the national park “Oleshkivski Sands”17.
July 12, 2016 in the premises of the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine the interdepartmental meeting on the illegal stay of troops in the Armed Forces Oleshkivski sands18. As a result of discussions the participants found common ground and made a joint decision that suit everyone:
- 20-21 July 2016 held a visiting meeting at which on-site to be established Oleshkivski sand seat redeployment of troops from the national park “Oleshkivski sands.” Organizer – Kherson Regional State Administration.
- ICO “Environment-People-Law” is preparing proposals on environmental work unit to be established within the structure of the future site.
- Members consider it appropriate to extend the boundaries of national parks “Oleshkivski sands” on the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy Ukraine19.
Currently the documentation on the creation of landfill outside national parks, training in the park stopped.
National Park “Azov-Sivash”
NNP left without actual protection through intrusion Armed Forces units, as the military is conducting unauthorized studies using Chasseurs borders as targets.
National Park “Meotida”
Military units occupy several chastynnatsionalnoho park. No agreements either with the leadership National Park nor the Ministry of Environment Ukraine was not1.
However, the request for information A. Vasilyuk,
Department of Defense has provided the answer №266/із/2783від 3.12.20152, which states that “documents for the resettlement of the polygon (the military shooting range), its placement and allotment of land for military exercises in the areas mentioned in the information request, the Ministry of Defence not published
”3.
Also, the fall of 2016 on the territory of national parks “Meotida” began construction of fortifications and durable firing points. As we found out experts EPL Armed Forces units have not received any approvals from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine and National Park Directorate “Meotida” for placing such structures. It is important to note that construction is almost on the edge of territory included in the National Park. Thus, the legal approval of these structures, if such was conducted, would be spared the national park and would accordingly Armed Forces units to avoid criminal violations.
National Park “Tuzlovski estuaries”in Odesa region also experienced training, “the old memory” conducted military where in ancient times housed the Soviet military facility. However, after the active intervention of management training natsparku could stop and force the military to do reclamation of damaged areas4.
National Park «Dzharilhatskiy”
In April 2016 without the approval of the PNP Directorate in the territory o.Dzharylhach trained military border guards and coast guard (near lighthouse1and along the sea coast2).
October 5, 2016 through gullies of the s.Lazurne on Dzharylgach tried to call in the military. Check-in was not agreed either with border guards nor the NPP directorate, which implies that the most likely reason for the invasion of the island – going to illegal hunting.
Wildlife “Medobory”
March 27 in the natural reserve “Medobory” arbitrarily, without any awareness Directorate, drove 8th regiment of special forces V4252 to conduct a week of joint Ukrainian-US military exercises in shooting 3. This situation is solved very unexpected way, after talking with the health service reserve American instructors refused to stay in the protected area. Training was suspended.
Letter №343 / 1 / 10,803 of 12/12/2016, the Defense Ministry announced that further studies in the reserve will not occur.
Wildlife “Lugansk”
Sources EPL reported military exercises in Luhansk Nature Reserve, and it is his department “Trohizbenskyy step.”
Letter №343 / 1 / 10,803 of 12/12/2016, the Defense Ministry announced that further studies in the reserve will not occur.
Black Sea Biosphere Reserve
In the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve (Kherson region), the Ministry of Defense plans to place missile systems and conduct training 1 .
Ability to create this actively studied military range in the first half of 2016 at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Black Sea Reserve administration repeatedly received requests from Minborony on the subject of the request to explain how a reserve can remove land. Moreover, the Defense Ministry pressured management reserve to accommodate on its territory missile systems. Also, we know that the issue is under the control of the Security Service of Ukraine 2 .
According to the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, no later than August 2016, had to withdraw from the Black Sea biosphere reserve 5 500 hectares of land Tracts “Yahorlyk corner” (quite likely tract, a third of all terrestrial reserve) and equip it for landfill location zenitno- rocket, missile weapons and air weapons and combat training launches of missiles.
The reasons for placing missiles here is that since the days of the Soviet Union on the reserve shaft is adapted for installation of the complex (by the way, on this site in the reserve not act on the ground and, apparently, the object still belongs MoD) and that to accommodate … .. for training purposes required of the object at a distance of 90 km from the nearest settlement. These are areas in Ukraine Yahordytskyy corner and central part of the Isthmus of NPP “Tuzlovski estuaries.”
The territory of the tract “Yahorlyk corner” is one of the wildest areas of the seaside region of Ukraine. Currently, the area of the tract “Yahorlyk corner” is reserved central core Biosphere Reserve 1 , it is legally remove land impossible.
In 1985 the Black Sea biosphere reserve was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, which issued a certificate of UNESCO on 15 February 1985 Removing the key areas of the biosphere reserve of international importance inevitably will cause serious loss of Ukraine’s image in the international arena and will lead to the exclusion of the reserve of lists UNESCO.
After the press conference on April 12, to the Biosphere Reserve “Askania Nova” visited the representatives of OSCE mission led by Mr. Andre Richardson. There is the issue of Ukraine’s obligations regarding the maintenance and preservation of protected sites of international importance under the protection of UNESCO (Black Sea BR, BR “Askania Nova”). Most mission representatives were surprised by the fact that Ukrainian storonydo this time none of the military have not met with the leadership of any of the objects of natural reserve fund.
Letter №343 / 1 / 10,803 of 12/12/2016, the Ministry of Defence reported that withdrawal of land from the reserve are not planned.
Yavoriv National Park
Environmentalists ICO “Environment-People-Law” became aware of the intention of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine eliminate Yavorivsky National Nature park.Tak same as in the case of a national park “Oleshkivski sands”, as we reported earlier, the Ministry of Defense formulates the question as a request to change the limits NPP, removing them from all the territories that were previously protected zone Yavoriv landfill. But all this land – a land natsparku 2 . A week after news spread of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of Lviv Regional State Administration has extended counter news that remove land NPP will not 3 .
The letter №343 / 1 / 10,803 of 12/12/2016, the Ministry of Defence reported that withdrawal of land from the NPP no longer planned.
Arboretum “Sofiyivka”
The Ministry of Defence through the apartment-operational department of the city. White Church wants to withdraw 10 hectares National Arboretum “Sofiyivka”, NAS of Ukraine. Appropriate action on the proposal made by the military prosecutor to the economic court of Cherkasy region. 4
Land that was in use before the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was given the permanent use of the park by the decision of the City Council of Uman 15.09.2006r. № 4.12-4 / 5. Over the next 10 years, park staff spent restoring abandoned land in the area and created fundukovyy nursery, which collected the largest in Ukraine and Eastern Europe collection hazelnuts. Land fenced with concrete slabs, summed up the network of water pipes arranged drip irrigation, electricity, what was spent over 2.5 mln. UAH of budget funds.
However, the Defense Ministry decided that ever need them again necessary area for any purpose. Without any legal grounds to return the land, the Defense Ministry is trying to take away her by force, through the courts.
However, court decisions are currently taken for the park.
Tarutinskij step
Finally, the most scandalous was the situation with the reserve “Tarutinskij step.” “Tarutinskij step” – steppe reserve in the Odessa area area of 5200 hectares. In the past, the reserve was a military range Tarutino (total area steppes within the landfill was 24,000 hectares). But after 2004 the landfill was eliminated and most of it could not be saved. Very quickly, the local government has transferred almost all of plowing under. Active nature conservationists bring results only in 2012, when the center of the former landfill declared a reserve. “Tarutinskij step” was the second in Ukraine steppe protected areas after Askania Nova.
In early 2016 nodules members of the organization “Center for Regional Studies” (Odessa) found that reserve rozoryuyut tractors. It turned out that the local departments of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine concluded an illegal lease agreements with farmers, pretending that the land belongs to the military reserve. Destruction has given impetus largest reserve in the 2016 environmental campaign in Ukraine, which promptly opened a few days5.
The campaign joined by hundreds of Ukrainian politicians, influential NGOs. From Western Europe first appeal sent members EDGG, as well as representative WWF. On the destruction Reserve started to publish dozens of articles in the media (and especially – local media in the Odessa region), which are all supported unanimously by nature conservationists and denounced the actions of the Ministry of Defence. Environmentalists International Charitable Organization “Environment-People-Law” (EPL) and WWF experts rated the damage caused to the reserve, 12.4 billion USD.ICO “Environment-People-Law” applied to court to stop work in the reserve and to recover damages from the farmer. After the press conference in Kiev and Odessa, as well as radical and heroic actions of the leaders of the National Park “Tuzlovski estuaries” (Ivan Rusev, I.Vyhrystyuk) who arrived at the reserve and destruction on their own work stopped coming, the situation began to change, though 1300 hectares of steppe are destroyed.
Courts have begun to take decision in favor of reserve6.
Defense Minister personally invited to meet environmental EPL and offered to jointly seek a way out. Formed a joint working group of EPL, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to combat the negative impact of military activities on protected areas. December 22, 2016 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Secretary of the Environment Committee Ostap Yednak announced the names of officials who are antypremiyu “disgusting Year”7.
In the category “Shredder natural heritage” medal depicting pig snout received Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak.
In the next issue of the newsletter will be published EDGG detailed report on the fight for Tarutinskij step.
Enumerate such cases could be and more. In Mizhrichynskyi Regional Landscape Park in Chernihiv zahoryavsya twice as a result of forest at the site “Desna” in several protected areas Luhansk placed bunkers and other fortifications (including built in protected chalk slopes). Due to lack of information are not able to fully assess the impact of military exercises in the reserved “Druzhkovka petrified trees” and the placement of military equipment in the tracts “forest on granite» 8 in the Donetsk region, and more.
However, it is important to be aware of the situation at the strategic level. Why is this happening? Defense is not considered a protected territories raider grabs territory so that interesting from their point of view, and even tries to achieve the liquidation of some of them at the state level (including those under the protection of UNESCO). But if you see our map referred to in this article, it is clear that most of the territories described above, are not in the front-line and far away, in a peaceful part of Ukraine.
Many experts suggest that such activity is the Defense Ministry called the approach of land reform. Especially in the case of Tarutino steppe and arboretum “Sofiyivka” it is clear that the Ministry seeks to seize valuable land just before the reform.
For 2016 we have heard complaints about our struggle with the Defense Ministry, which always began with the phrase “In a time when guys die in the east …”. However, none of the volunteers or military-strokovykiv not fighting for the fact that the state disposed natsparky, developed raiding and corruption at the state level. Men die by European ideals, the rule of law and dignity.
Today continues a formal working group between the Ministry, Defence Ministry and the EPL, whose task will be problem solving for military activities in protected areas. As you can see, at the end of the year we managed to somehow establish contact with the Ministry of Defence. We expect within the framework of the working group to be able to stop all illegal acts Defense Ministry of Ukraine in protected areas and preserve the environment for all Ukrainian.
Please milestones readers of this article to let us know you know the facts of illegal military training in protected areas and other places.
1 http://life.pravda.com.ua/society/2015/03/23/191385/
3 http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/12/29/7094047/
4 Letter pervogo deputy chairman of the State Agency of forest resources Ukraine H.V.Yushkevich №02-31 / 2967-16 from 20.05.2016 to ICO ro ku “Environment-People-Law”
5Letter ICO “Environment-People-Law» №374 from 27.05.2016 until the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine
6
Letter of the State Environmental Inspection in the Kherson region to ICO “Environment-People-Law» №2-85 / 01-22 from 06.10.2016 year.
7 Letter National Park “Oleshkivski Sands” from 01.14.2016 poku number 01 – 18/07 Radenskoyi to the head of the village council Kravchenko OV
8 Letter National Park “Oleshkivski sands” of 15.12 .2015 № 01-8 / 171 to the head of the National Security and Defense of Ukraine OV Turchynov
9
Letter National Park “Oleshkivski sands” of 17.12 .2015 № 01-21 / 112 Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Environmental Policy and liquidation of consequences of the Chernobyl disaster M. Tomenko
10https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%259F%25D1%2596%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D1%2596_%25D0%25B7%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BF%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D1%2596%25D0%25B4%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B8
11 http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/221/2010
12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8JncW9K8q8
13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1sFQY4RKQY
14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIlats7vxzQ
15 http://pechenegy.org.ua/ru/node/1290
16 https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/m0j10piag3w31cc/Peredyslokatsija%20poligonu_2.PDF?dl=0
17
Letter of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine №220 / 2917 from 29.03.2016, to the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
18 http://www.menr.gov.ua/press-center/news/150-news28/5114-vidnovlennia-viiskovoho-polihonu-ne-prypynyt-diialnist-natsionalnoho-pryrodnoho-parku-oleshkivski-pisky
19 Minutes of the meeting on the establishment of training area near the national park “Oleshkivski Sands”. July 12, 2016, the Ministry of Environment. // Kyiv Ukraine MEP Letter №9-01 / 765-16 of 14.07.2016, the National Ecological Center of Ukraine
20 епл
21 Letter of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine № 266 / a / 2783 from 12.03.2015 till Vasilyuk OV
22 http://www.epl.org.ua/events/2085-minoborony-ukrainy-prykhovuie-rozmishchennia-strilbyshcha-u-natsionalnomu-parku
23 http://uc.od.ua/news/Region/1182064.html24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZySX8NSA5E
25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk8jVwG68ds
26 http://teren.in.ua/article/lisnyky_na_ternopilshchyni_prohnaly_viyskovykh_z_medoboriv
27 The decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of 11 November 2015, which enacted the Decree of President of Ukraine of December 1, 2015 №672-22 “On urgent measures to improve the air defense system of the state”
28
Letter of the Main Department counterintelligence protection of state interests in the sphere of economic security. Security Service of Ukraine vid13.06.16 number 8/2 / 3-7115
29 http://bsbr.ks.ua/images/bsbr_map.jpg
30https://www.facebook.com/185650678123057/photos/br.AbrX_p6jmrpCF8F5JODhATzfx2BPQX2Hs2fDbUSlJ_k_P_vPb5xfNaXh88Eemb9xzjrJeUN-LhG3DhtM-0j-JlXPUfbx2QV_9LQsLqS6qTEYOYs-w5t-DoRva6vj-rH48nT2uNNj5JJADSuGdJQxu45h/1233024613385653/?type=3&theater
31https://www.facebook.com/832503596790034/photos/a.834482663258794.1073741827.832503596790034/1386280861412302/?type=3&theater
32 http://gazeta.ua/articles/regions/_minoboroni-hoche-zabrati-teritoriyu-dendroparku-sofiyivka/735176
33 http://epl.org.ua/events/2861-unikalnyi-tarutynskyi-step-znyshchuietsia-pid-prykryttiam-minoborony
34 http://epl.org.ua/ecology/zberezhennia-bioriznomanittia/novyny/2873-rozoriuvaty-zakaznyk-tarutynskyi-step-zaboroneno
35https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE_%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%83
36https://www.facebook.com/185650678123057/photos/pb.185650678123057.-2207520000.1459238429./1022797967741653/?type=3&theater
