FOOD SECURITY OF THE POPULATION IN RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE: HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE AND MODERN CHALLENGES AMID MARTIAL LAW.

Abstract

The article studies the historical experience of ensuring food security for the population of radioactively contaminated territories (RCTs) of Ukraine after the Chornobyl catastrophe of 1986 and analyzes the modern challengescaused by the full scale martial law. Based on the analysis of archival materials, regulatory legal acts, and scientific publications, it was established that in the first years after the accident, the government implemented a comprehensive protection system which included: centralized supply of clean products, production of safe agriculturalproducts, use of radioprotectors, organization of balanced nutrition for children, and largescale information andeducational work. However, chronic underfunding and the liquidation of specialized services led to the gradualdestruction of this system. Surveys conducted showed that, despite being aware of the radiation contamination, asignificant part of the RCT residents continue to consume local products, especially «gifts of the forest» (wildfoods), which is the main source of internal irradiation. This is due to a low level of material wellbeing and localdietary traditions. Under conditions of full scale war, where critical infrastructure is being destroyed and logisticalchains are disrupted, the issue of food security in RCTs becomes particularly acute. The authors conclude that historical experience demonstrates the need for constant funding and coordination of efforts for effective populationprotection. Modern conditions require the development of new approaches that will consider not only radiation risksbut also the challenges associated with martial law, including infrastructure destruction, economic instability, andlimited access to safe products. У статті вивчено історичний досвід забе&#x4