Ukraine's land seen as both vital resource and hazard in media

An international research team led by Alexander Vorbrugg studied how Ukrainian media reported on land damage since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The researchers analysed media coverage to understand how damage to land appeared in reports, what knowledge informed those reports, and how the war changed the way people think about land. They found that the media show Ukrainian land as both essential for life and a place full of danger, like from landmines and pollution.

The study distinguished between seeing land as simply territory for military purposes and understanding it as an ecological and social space. Researchers noted a strong connection between land, Ukrainian identity, and national history, with media portraying land as a living entity bearing the scars of war but also holding the potential for rebuilding the nation.

The team’s analysis of linguistic patterns revealed that media coverage treats land not just as a surface, but as something that carries damage into the future. They argue that international policy and analyses of armed conflict should give greater consideration to land as a broader concept, recognising its importance to both society and the environment.