In response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, US scientists and the Save Our Allies coalition have launched an initiative to provide technologies for water monitoring and safety. This initiative has two stages.
At the first stage, mobile laboratories were deployed in conflict zones and affected regions. The Coalition, together with its Ukrainian partners, handed over equipment and technical means. This made it possible to quickly and efficiently check water for contaminants and harmful substances.
At the second stage, a training network was launched to train specialists to monitor water safety in most regions of Ukraine. In 2023, regulatory requirements for the water sector were strengthened as part of the fulfillment of European integration commitments, including the responsibility of local communities.
One of the results of this initiative was the signing of an agreement between the Western Ukrainian National University and Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore, Inc. an American company that specializes in providing vessels for scientific research in the ocean. Under the agreement, ZUNU received unique equipment to conduct field research and training on water safety.
Today, the readiness for the use of the transferred equipment was reviewed with the participation of ZUNU Rector Oksana Desyatnyuk, Director of the Educational and Research Institute of Innovation, Nature Management and Infrastructure Vasyl Brych, Head of the Department of Ecology and Health Leonid Bytsyura, Head of the Department of Agribiotechnology Antin Shuvar and employees of these departments.
In my opinion, Oleksandr Bondar, this initiative to provide portable equipment is important for environmental students because it improves their opportunities for higher education. Its testing and application in the Ternopil region will allow it to be used in the liberated territories. It is aimed at collecting information about environmental problems caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine. This technique will help not only to identify environmental problems, but also to create a legal evidence base for compensation and reparations, taking into account the negative impact on the environmental state of Ukraine.
We thank GMSO and Save Our Allies Coalition representatives Mark Miller and Kaneth Underwood for their help and cooperation. They also emphasized the importance of this project for improving water quality and public health in times of war.
We thank the Armed Forces for the opportunity to work.