On 22 May 2026, an international round table entitled “The Environmental Impact of the War on the Black Sea” was held in Athens, Hellenic Republic, in a hybrid format. The event was organised by the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) in cooperation with the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (RSVRU).

The event brought together representatives of international organisations, parliamentary and analytical institutions, academia, and expert communities from the Black Sea region, European Union Member States, and other international partners.

The discussion focused on the environmental consequences of the war for the Black Sea, including marine pollution, degradation of coastal areas, risks to maritime infrastructure and coastal communities, as well as prospects for cross-border cooperation in environmental monitoring and recovery.

The keynote speakers included Dr. Viktor KOMORIN, Deputy Director for Science, Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea (UkrSCES); Dr. Iryna SAVELIEVA, Acting Rector of Odesa National Maritime University; Dr. Serhii KADURIN, Head of the Department of Marine Geology, Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology and Paleontology, Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University; and Dr. Anna KONDRATOVA, Head of the Economic Development and Financial Policy Department, Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

As part of the event, an official ceremony for the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies took place, opening new opportunities for joint research, analytical, and educational initiatives.