Ecological Consequences of Missile Strikes on Forest Ecosystems: A Case Study from the Buda-Babynetska Area, Kyiv Region, Ukraine

War and armed conflicts have tragic and devastating consequences for people, biodiversity and the environment. Among all the numerous impacts, one of the most destructive and long-lasting is the explosion of munitions, especially missiles. Despite the large territories affected by explosions, research about their comprehensive impact on ecosystems is fragmentary and insufficient. This study aims to conduct a complex assessment of the consequences of a ballistic missile explosion on the geological environment, soils and vegetation using the case study of a crater near the village of Buda-Babynetska (Kyiv region, Ukraine). The explosion caused the mixing of soil and rocks, resulting in significant changes in geological diversity, soil structure and its physicochemical properties. Despite the high potential for the restoration of native pine-oak forest in the affected area, several issues that may hinder this have been discussed, including the reduction of soil organic matter, the shift towards sand-dominated substrates and the introduction of alien species. Continued long-term monitoring will be essential to determine the direction of ecosystem development.