NAS Expert Warns About Uninhabited Territories in Ukraine: Where Life Will Become Impossible.

According to ТСН: Ukraine may see a multitude of uninhabited territories. This concerns not only cities that have suffered due to the war but also regions where life will become practically impossible due to the constant threat from Russia.

Alexander Hladun, Deputy Director of the M.V. Ptukha Institute of Demography and Social Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, shared this in an interview with TSN.ua.

Where Will Life Disappear?

The expert identifies two main types of territories that may become uninhabited:

• 1. Natural depopulation (Northern Ukraine). Even before the full-scale invasion, the northern regions of Sumy and Chernihiv Oblasts were rapidly losing population.
• There were many villages simply dying out: the youth moved to cities, leaving only the elderly behind. The population was not replenished but was only decreasing, Hladun explains. The war only accelerated this process.
• 2. 30-kilometer 'sanitary zone.' The most critical situation is along the future line of demarcation or state border with Russia. According to the demographer, civilian habitation in the 30-kilometer zone from the front is impractical and dangerous.
• Military forces, defensive structures, and fortifications should be present there. Even if a freeze of the conflict occurs, one cannot trust the Russians. There will be provocations, shootouts, and shells will land, the scientist emphasizes.

Can People Live There?

The demographer states that theoretically, farmers or certain enterprises may remain in this zone, but this will mean daily risks to life. For mass habitation of families with children, the development of schools or hospitals, these territories will be unsuitable for decades.

Depopulation of large territories is a challenge not only for demography but also for national security. Empty lands are harder to control and protect. Therefore, the issue of resettling people and supporting life in border communities will become one of the most difficult tasks of post-war recovery.

Such changes can significantly impact the social structure and economic development of the region. The question of restoring life in areas with security threats will require new approaches and strategies in the post-war period. The fate of these territories depends not only on internal factors but also on external policy and the security situation in the country.