The Ukrainian Red Cross Partners in the International Scientific and Practical Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Threats in Wartime

The conference, held in Lviv, focused on biological, chemical, and environmental safety and protection during war. Discussions centred on interdisciplinary approaches to preventing such threats and enhancing preparedness. Special emphasis was placed on the application of international humanitarian law (IHL), which limits the methods and means of warfare. The event brought together leading scholars from Ukraine and abroad, alongside representatives from government bodies, the State Emergency Service, and the Ukrainian Red Cross.

Maksym Zatserkovnyi, Advisor to the Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, noted that, unfortunately, modern warfare brings chemical, biological, and environmental risks. Therefore, a key shared priority must be preparing for an effective response to these threats. The Ukrainian Red Cross has already established itself as a leader in humanitarian response and disaster management.

He emphasised that participation in this conference provides an opportunity to exchange expertise on responding to critical and emergency situations and to strengthen partnerships with Lviv State University of Life Safety and other academic institutions. Ultimately, in today’s world, science must work hand in hand with humanitarian action, with knowledge serving as a vital tool to save lives.

Representatives from the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response teams demonstrated simulations of emergency responses to biomedical threats. The conference also featured a presentation of the Voluntary IHL Report by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and a training session on international humanitarian law led by Khrystyna Duda, an IHL volunteer trainer at the Ukrainian Red Cross.