THE UKRAINIANS’ COLLECTIVE TRAUMA INFLICTED BY THE ECOCIDES

The survivors of the environmental catastrophe can be traumatized by the events that they have witnessed. The severity of traumatization is unique for every specific case. The magnitude of the people’s mental trauma depends on «the size of the disaster, their proximity and connection to the environment, and the scale of their exposure» [Gray, 2024]. Given the proposed criteria, it is possible to assume that the environmental disasters inflicted upon the Ukrainians by Russia during the last two years cause mental trauma and contribute to even stronger emotional burden imposed on the survivors.

The massive attack on the mental health and emotional well-being of the Ukrainians can be viewed as a collective trauma triggered by the exposure to ecological catastrophes. Collective trauma is «mental trauma suffered by a large group

people (or its representatives) as a result of some event that goes far beyond

limits of normal group functioning conditions» [Gornostai, 2023, c. 21]. When it comes to ecological catastrophes, mental traumatization can be caused not only by witnessing the death of counterparts, but also by witnessing the massive death of animals [Gill, D. A., & Picou, 2001; Gornostai, 2023]. Besides, the loss of homes, properties, and personal belongings, as well as environmental contamination that complicates or makes it altogether impossible to maintain habitual lifestyle and earn one’s living also become the sources of trauma [Seleznova et al., 2013]. Becoming the survivors of the environmental crimes caused by Russia, the Ukrainian people are traumatized by all these factors.

The environmental disasters, which the Ukrainian society is witnessing in the today’s world, can be referred to as ecocides. Ecocide is a term used to describe an act (or sequence of acts) of the massive environmental damage caused despite significant ecological threats that can be foreseen in advance or deliberately with the purpose to inflict devastating consequences [Leclerc, 2023]. Thinking about ecocides caused to the Ukrainian nature by Russia, probably, the most vivid examples are Russia’s seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam [Hryhorczuk et al., 2014]. These examples are truly ecocides. However, there are also a lot of other environmental crimes that awake multiple simultaneous threats that cause significant damage to people, flora, and fauna.

Ecocides are characterized by the considerable size of the associated disaster (s), their proximity to people, high scale of the exposure, and of course, by the significant negative impact on the environment. For example, according to the recent evidence revealed by the European Parliament, «the war has caused more than $56.4 billion in damage to the environment» [Hryhorczuk et al., 2024]. It should be emphasized that the landmines and unexploded ordnance become the source of chemical and radiological pollution. The European Parliament stresses that military weapons cause significant chemical contamination of the Ukrainian environment [Hryhorczuk et al., 2024]. Besides, «landscape destruction, shelling, wildfires, deforestation, and pollution have adversely affected 30% of Ukraine’s protected areas» [Hryhorczuk et al., 2024]. Under such conditions, the Ukrainians become the survivors of the multiple environmental crimes and ecocides, which cause collective trauma.

Unfortunately, the impact of environmental disasters and ecocides of the mental health of the large groups of people remains understudied. One of the studied examples is the case of Exxon Valdez oil spill that has caused significant environmental, economic, mental, and socio-cultural burden to the Alaskan dwellers [Gray, 2024]. The American sociologists, Duane A. Gill and J. Steven Picou [2001], who studied sociological and psychological consequences caused to the native Alaskan communities as a result of a huge oil spill, claimed that the locals reported «a broad range of emotions and mental trauma — from outrage and anger, to sadness, denial, and grief». Witnessing an ecological catastrophe, people realize that their home is violated; the sense of safety is undermined. Besides, in addition to safety issue, ecological disasters change habitual lifestyle, violating economic well-being of people, as well as damaging socio-cultural aspects of life [Gill & Picou, 2001]. This collective trauma of the native Alaskans can be compared to the collective trauma caused by the environmental crimes and ecocides caused by Russia.

When it comes to ecocide, it can hardly be studied separately as the factor of the collective trauma. Gornostai [2023] emphasizes that collective trauma should be analyzed from a multidisciplinary perspective. This approach can be especially relevant when it comes to helping the survivors of the ecocides and environmental crimes to achieve positive growing in trauma. Collective trauma can be simultaneously viewed as damage, as an experience, and as a source of resilience for recovery and further growth [Gornostai, 2023]. While nowadays the precise magnitude of the collective ecocide-driven trauma of the Ukrainians, as well as the patterns of further development remains unknown, it is possible, and actually important to think and search for the ways to assist the counterparts in overcoming its consequences.

Scrutinizing of what can be done to contribute to posttraumatic growth one should consider both practical and research-driven approaches. For example, the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group explores the magnitude of the ecological damage caused by military actions with the purpose to discover the ways to maximize the well-being of the Ukrainian ecosystems and promote ecological services [Vasiliuk et al., 2023]. This approach can show the perspectives for posttraumatic growth of both—the nation and the nature. Simultaneously, a research-driven approach is stressed in numerous recent Ukrainian studies. For example, Vintilă et al. [2023] accentuate that to be able to assist people’s growing in trauma it is important to explore thoroughly the discussed topic in the scientific field by initiating different types of studies (longitudinal, qualitative). These diverse scientific approaches would be rather helpful for broadening the knowledge of people’s experiences, perceptions, and sources of resilience. Hopefully, with these multidimensional approaches the consequences of ecocides can be minimized and posttraumatic growth successfully boosted.

Джерела та література

1. Gill, D. A., & Picou, J. S. (2001). The day the water dies. In S. Biel (Ed.), American disasters (pp.

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4. Hryhorczuk, D., Levy, B. S., Prodanchuk, M., Kravchuk, O., Bubalo, N., Hryhorczuk, A., &

Erickson, T. B. (2024). The environmental health impacts of Russia's war on Ukraine. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology (London, England), 19(1), 1-14. doi.org/10.1186/s12995-023-00398-y

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