Military-Induced Landscape Changes in Ukraine’s Protected Areas: Spatial Patterns and Ecological Consequences

Military activities represent a major driver of environmental change, leading to large-scale transformations of landscape structure and ecosystem functioning within protected areas. This study examines the impact of armed conflict on the Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) of Ukraine, with a particular focus on spatial patterns of landscape fragmentation, pyrogenic dynamics, and ecosystem degradation.

An integrated methodological approach combining geoinformation (GIS) analysis, remote sensing, ecological monitoring, and descriptive assessment was applied to evaluate environmental changes during pre-war (2019–2021) and wartime (2022–2024) periods. The analysis was based on Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, FIRMS (MODIS and VIIRS) thermal anomaly data, NDVI calculations, and landscape metrics (patch density, edge density, mean patch size, and landscape shape index).

The results reveal significant spatial reorganisation of protected landscapes, characterised by increased fragmentation, reduced habitat continuity, and intensified edge effects. Fire disturbance emerged as a key factor of landscape transformation, as evidenced by a sharp increase in thermal anomalies and expansion of burned areas. Vegetation dynamics indicate incomplete ecosystem recovery under conditions of repeated disturbances.

In addition to structural changes, military impacts have contributed to soil degradation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss, leading to reduced ecosystem resilience. The disruption of ecological connectivity and the formation of heterogeneous landscape mosaics complicate natural recovery processes.

The findings highlight the importance of applying landscape ecology approaches and geospatial tools for assessing war-related environmental impacts. The study provides a scientific basis for developing spatially explicit strategies for post-conflict ecological restoration, including the prioritisation of degraded areas and the restoration of ecological networks. The results also emphasise the broader European significance of environmental damage in Ukraine and the need for international cooperation in ecosystem recovery.