Soil Assembly in Ukraine on May 16: Soil Regeneration in the Context of War and Post-War Recovery
Non-Governmental Organisation “Ukrainian Ecostations Network”
Date: 16 May 2026
Location: Environmental Research Station “Hlyboki Balyky”, Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, village of Balyko-Shchuchynka, 35 Polova Street.
Topic: Soil Regeneration Amid War
The Soil Assembly Conference “Soil Regeneration in the Context of War” is an interdisciplinary event bringing together scientists, ecologists, artists, and professionals working in agriculture.
Soil Assembly creates a space for dialogue across different sectors to explore practical and creative approaches to soil restoration in the context of war and Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
What is the Ukrainian Ecostations Network?
The Ukrainian Ecostations Network is a non-governmental organisation that unites everyone striving to protect nature. It provides tools and support for implementing environmental initiatives through the work format of ecostations. Ukrainian Ecostations Network’s mission is to bring people together for the development of communities in harmony with nature.
Through its ecostations, Ukrainian Ecostations Network helps activists deepen their knowledge, implement scientific and educational projects in ecology and nature conservation, and connect with like-minded people — creating a synergy of actions for introducing ecosolutions and achieving sustainable development at the community level.
Ukrainian Ecostations Network focuses on developing a sustainable and cohesive community of ecostations united by shared values and a common purpose. All strategic areas of Ukrainian Ecostations Network’s work are built around fostering deeper interaction between the network’s ecostations, local communities, and nature.
Online broadcast: Everyone interested is welcome to join the online broadcast of the conference on May 16 from 10:00 to 18:00: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89780150804?pwd=Ubz9csUlFWeFoqmhmX3KMktu9RuaUp.1
Please note that all times indicated in the program are given in Ukrainian local time (EET/EEST).
Event Program
Saturday May 16
| 08:30–09:30 | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| 08:00–09:30 | Arrival of new participants. Transfer departure from Vydubychi metro station at 08:00, arrival at approximately 09:30 |
| 09:30–10:00 | Registration. Networking and welcome coffee |
| 10:00–10:10 | Welcome remarks Bohdan Popov, Head of the Public Organisation “Ukrainian Ecostations Network,” Director of the Scientific Unit “Environmental Research Station ‘Hlyboki Balyky.’” Elina Zakharchenko, PhD in Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Agrotechnologies and Soil Science, Sumy National Agrarian University |
| 10:10–10:40 | Experience in researching the geological environment and soils through the lens of war impacts Kateryna Derevska, Doctor of Geological Sciences, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy |
| 10:40–11:10 | Results of the project “War-Damaged Soils: Restoration and Remediation,” 2025–2026 Olena Melnyk, PhD, Research Associate, Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Switzerland |
| 11:10–11:40 | Spatial distribution of heavy metals and optimization of remediation methods in war-affected agricultural landscapes of southern Ukraine Serhii Lavrenko, PhD in Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor, Academic Secretary of the Academic Council, Kherson State Agrarian and Economic University. |
| 11:40–12:10 | Coffee break, networking |
| 12:10–12:40 | From local crater to mosaic contamination: comparative characteristics of soil conditions in impact zones in Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions Elina Zakharchenko, PhD in Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Agrotechnologies and Soil Science, Sumy National Agrarian University |
| 12:40–13:10 | “Science for Business” — pathways for restoring war-affected soils Svitlana Korsun, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Executive Director, BTU Institute of Biotechnology |
| 13:10–14:10 | Lunch and networking. |
| 14:10–14:40 | Nature-based solutions against heavy metals in soil Iryna Protsenko, RECOVER Project Coordinator, WWF-Ukraine |
| 14:40–15:10 | Land art as the art of the earth: ecological meanings and artistic practices in Ukraine through the ArtPole projects Myroslava Hanyushkina, Director of ArtPole Agency |
| 15:10–15:40 | Biochar and soils Bohdan Popov, Head of the Non-Governmental Organisation “Ukrainian Ecostations Network”, Director of the Scientific Unit “Environmental Research Station “Hlyboki Balyky” |
| 15:40–16:10 | Coffee break, networking |
| 16:10–16:40 | Restoration of land in explosion craters using the Rozum Warm Beds technology Vira Rodionova, Certified Trainer, Permaculture in Ukraine Union |
| 16:40–17:10 | Digital soil regeneration: how grassroots initiatives are leading the voluntary carbon economy Maksym Zalevskyi, President of GEN Ukraine |
| 17:10–17:30 | Closing remarks |
| 17:30–18:00 | Departure of part of the participants. Transfer to Vydubychi metro station (arrival approx. 19:30) |
| 18:30–20:30 | Joint dinner and informal networking |
SoilTribes (101157729) is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the European Research Executive Agency (REA) can be held responsible for them.
