Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University

On April 18-19, 2024, the 4th International Scientific Conference “Military conflicts and Technogenic Disasters: Historical and Psychological Consequences” was held at Ternopil Ivan Pulyj National Technical University. More than 100 participants representing 6 foreign and 23 Ukrainian organizations took part in this conference.

The conference, which united presentations by scholars and researchers from all over the world, was held in the following areas:

• Psychological and social adaptation and rehabilitation of military conflicts victims and technogenic disasters;
• History of military conflicts and technogenic disasters;
• Hybrid wars: historical and psychological consequences;
• Understanding the phenomenon of war: cognitive, philosophical and social dimensions.
• The impact of military conflicts and technogenic disasters on life safety, local and global ecosystems;
• The latest approaches to minimizing the economic, environmental, and social consequences of military conflicts;
• Ukraine – NATO: present and future.

Pavlo Marushchak, Vice-Rector of Scientific Research Work of Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University, opened the conference with a welcoming speech. In his introductory speech, he drew attention to the importance of such meetings for the academic community, for representatives of the military authorities, government, and other social institutions of the country. The war in Ukraine is the most difficult test, so each of us should be involved in everything that will bring our victory closer The participants were also greeted by Marcos António Nogueira, the President of the Congress of European Emerging Regions (CoEER), who assured the audience of European support, the importance of joining efforts on all fronts, and constant informing the West about the events in Ukraine.  “We do not give up, Ukraine, Europe, Freedom, Unity is Victory, Victory is Peace,” Marcos Nogueira said.  Mykhailo Tymoshyk, deputy of the Ternopil Regional Council, joined the greetings and emphasized that no one can stand aside while our soldiers are defending their homeland at the cost of their lives.

The plenary session was opened by Yoshiyasu Ohi, Doctor of Science in Security Studies, former Associate Professor (Japan National Defense Academy), Commander of the Japanese Navy (retired) with the report “Japan’s policy of dealing with air raids as a form of national protection during World War II”.

The meeting continued with the vital topic “Realia i aspiracji współpracy ukrainy z NATO. polskie oczekiwania i wizja przyszłości” by representatives of the Military Technological Academy named after Jarosław Dombrowski (Poland): Colonel, Dr. Jarosław Ziółkowski and Dr. Volodymyr Hutsailiuk.

Olha Kosharna, PhD in Chemistry, expert on nuclear energy and nuclear safety, member of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, reported about the terrible facts of military seizure of civilian nuclear facilities, illegal, looting, provocative behavior of racist criminals, and the irreparable consequences of these actions for Ukraine.

Iryna Trubavina, Dr. of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor at Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, continued with a detailed report on the directions for ensuring social cohesion in martial law.

The co-organizer of the conference, the National Defense University of Ukraine, was represented by a team of scientists from the Institute of Strategic Communications, headed by the Head of the Institute, Candidate of Military Sciences, Associate Professor, Colonel Oleksandr Voitko, who presented the goals and objectives of the unit in the educational sphere and in the system of countering Russian hybrid aggression. Then, together with Volodymyr Polevyi, Senior Research Scientist at the National University of Defense of Ukraine, they presented their work in the field of research on the cognitive dimension of war. Oleh Medvediev, Senior Research Scientist at the National University of Defense of Ukraine, reported to the audience about Russian “Orthodoxy” as a Weapon of this Cognitive War on the Example of the Work of the Orthodox Church in Poland.

The report by Natalia Korinets, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Scientific Secretary of the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve named after F.E. Falz-Fein of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, was very poignant. Ms. Korinets experienced the Russian occupation, searches and interrogations, evacuation to Khmelnytskyi, and continues to describe the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve.

Maja Cvitan Grubišin, Senior Expert at Evolve Strategy Ltd (Croatia), shared her analytical investigation of the impact of wars on Europe. She also spoke about Croatia recovering from the 1991-1995 domestic war.

At the end of the conference, the participants were offered the presentation by Dr. Andrzej Sęk and Dr. Julian Maj, Faculty of Social Sciences, State Professional University in Suwałki (Poland) about Ukraine’s winding roads to Western democracy and NATO. The colleagues invited the participants of the conference to join the 6th International Scientific Conference “Assessment of the Current Aspects of the War in Ukraine and Possible Scenarios for the Implementation of Russia’s Main Political and Imperial Provisions”, which will be held on May 16-17, 2024 in Suwałki.

The second day of the conference was interesting and eventful as well, with the active participation of our regular co-organizers, representatives from Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, particularly the Department of Pedagogy and Education Management headed by Dooctor in pedagogical sciences, Professor Halyna Meshko.

Oleh Herman, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor, and Honored Artist of Ukraine, opened the sectional meeting with his keynote speech on ”Comprehensive Measurement of Crisis Conditions Caused by Russian-Ukrainian War.”

Liliya Patsaliuk, Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, shared her incredible experience of volunteering in her presentation “Volunteering as a Mean of Forming National Consciousness of Student Youth”.

The report by Oleh Danylevych and Andriy Vasyltsiv, who, under the guidance of their supervisor, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor Lesia Nazarevych, presented their creative research paper on the topic “Georgia and Ukraine – Shoulder to Shoulder or Friendship by Blood” was unique.

Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor Iryna Perih supplemented her presentation “Search for Resources as the Condition for Maintaining Mental Health” with training sessions and practical tips.

The sectional meetings were summarized by Ostap Mardynavka’s presentation “Ukrainians’ Rejection of Symbols Associated with Russia”, where the student of the Department of Cyber Security analyzed the images, signs, and symbols that Ukrainians reject in order to get rid of any connection with the colonial past.

For further information, please visit the conference webpage https://tntu.edu.ua/?p=uk/structure/research/conferences/r2024/vktk

In this difficult time, we are incredibly grateful to all who shared their research experience with us and all the conference participants. We thank everyone who gave presentations and supported us. Looking forward to meeting you at the next conference in peaceful, independent and free Ukraine!

Slava Ukraini! Heroiam Slava!

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!