Soil degradation in the context of armed conflict: a conceptual framework

The large-scale military invasion of Ukraine has triggered an environmental crisis, dramatically intensifying pre-existing processes of soil degradation and introducing new threats to soil health, ecosystem function, and national food security. This review is highly relevant given the unprecedented scale of military disturbance, the diversity of affected landscapes, and the far-reaching impacts on agricultural production and ecological stability. The purpose of this work is to comprehensively synthesize current Ukrainian and international research on the impacts of military activities on soils, focusing on the mechanisms and feedbacks underlying war-related degradation. Methods include systematic literature analysis, integration of field and remote sensing data, and case study evaluation. The review analyzes four key dimensions of soil system change: physical disturbance (compaction, erosion, cratering), chemical contamination (heavy metals, explosives, oil products), biological decline (loss of microbial and plant diversity), and social disruption (land abandonment, reduced productivity, risks to livelihoods). The results show that warfare accelerates soil degradation through multiple interacting pathways, leading to cumulative impacts and the risk of ecological “regime shifts,” where soils lose resilience and recovery potential. Scientific novelty is provided by an integrated conceptual framework that explicitly connects physical, chemical, biological, and social feedbacks, drawing on both Ukrainian and international evidence.The practical significance lies in identifying major knowledge gaps and highlighting the urgent need for interdisciplinary, systems-based monitoring and adaptive management. The model and recommendations are applicable not only to Ukraine, but to all regions facing environmental impacts of armed conflict, and can inform evidence-based policy and restoration strategies.