“Demographer Oleksandr Gladun warns that Ukraine risks facing the emergence of large-scale uninhabited territories. According to him, the problem will concern not only destroyed settlements near the front line, but also entire areas where living will become practically impossible due to the constant threat from Russia. Oleksandr Gladun, deputy director of the Institute of Demography and Research, told about this in an interview with tsn.ua”, — write on: ua.news
Demographer Oleksandr Gladun warns that Ukraine risks facing the emergence of large-scale uninhabited territories. According to him, the problem will concern not only destroyed settlements near the front line, but also entire areas where living will become practically impossible due to the constant threat from Russia.
Oleksandr Gladun, deputy director of the Mykhailo Ptuha Institute of Demography and Quality of Life Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, told about this in an interview with tsn.ua.
The expert drew attention to the process of extinction of villages in the northern regions, as well as to the probable formation of a 30-kilometer security zone along the state border. According to the expert, such territories may lose their population for a long time due to danger, lack of infrastructure and economic prospects.
The expert identifies two main types of territories that are at risk of becoming uninhabited:
“Natural” depopulation (northern Ukraine). Even before the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the northern regions of Sumy and Chernihiv regions were rapidly losing their population.
“There, many villages simply died out: young people went to the cities, only the elderly remained. The population did not increase, but only decreased,” Gladun explains. The war only accelerated this irreversible process.
30-kilometer “sanitary zone” The most critical situation is along the future demarcation line or state border with Russia. According to the demographer, it is impractical and dangerous for civilians to live in a 30-kilometer zone from the front.
“There should be military, defense structures and fortifications there. Even if the conflict freezes, the Russians cannot be trusted. There will be provocations, gunfights, shells will fly,” the scientist emphasizes.
According to the demographer, in theory, farmers or individual businesses could remain in this zone, but this would mean a daily risk to life. For mass residence of families with children, construction of schools or hospitals, these territories will be unsuitable for decades.
Depopulation of vast areas is a challenge not only for demography, but also for national security. “Empty” lands are more difficult to control and defend. Therefore, the issue of resettling people and supporting life in border communities will become one of the most difficult tasks of post-war reconstruction.
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