European research project on the state of pollution in the Black Sea «Black Sea SIERRA»: mission and partic ipation of Ukrainian oceanographers

The destruction of civil and industrial objects in Ukraine caused by a decade-long armed conflict, especially since February 2022, has led to extensive environmental pollution within the country, particularly in the waterways of the Black Sea basin. The consequences of these actions have also affected the state of the Black Sea, causing concern for the European Union and the global scientific community. Therefore, within the framework of the European program «Horizon Europe», funds were allocated for scientific research into the consequences of pollution in coastal water bodies and the Black Sea as a whole. In the 2023 «Horizon Europe» project competition, a proposal by an intergovernmental consortium of 7 scientific organizations from 5 countries was awarded the grant, including the State Institution «Scientific Hydrophysical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The project aims to create effective monitoring and quality control strategies for water, as well as the implementation of innovative technologies to reduce the impact of pollutants on the ecosystems of the Black Sea. The application of research results is planned for the development of environmentally sound recommendations and strategies for the conservation of the marine environment. The project involves collaboration between countries to address pollution issues and study the Black Sea, as well as the development of scientific approaches to water resource management in the region. Special attention is given to the development of educational programs regarding the impact of military pollution on the water ecosystems of the Black Sea region. This article describes the localization, factors, and types of pollution in waterways and the Black Sea basin, the project’s structure, types of activities, and the investigated water bodies in Ukraine, as well as the participation of SI «Scientific Hydrophysical Center of NAS of Ukraine» as a project participant.