Waste from the Destruction of Industrial and Civil Infrastructure as a Resource in the Post-War Revival of Ukraine

The article substantiates the designation of Waste from Uncontrolled Destruction (WUD) as a distinct category of anthropogenic waste generated by war, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and major technological incidents. The objective is to demonstrate the necessity of such recognition and to propose a classification model with methods for assessing WUD volumes, morphology, and risk. Methods include a review of international and national regulatory frameworks, comparative analysis with construction and demolition (C&D) waste, synthesis of international case evidence, and development of an operational WUD-A…E classification accompanied by a matrix of hazards, safety barriers, and management routes (from upfront safety assurance to sorting, decontamination, recycling, and specialized disposal). Results indicate that WUD differs materially from C&D in mixed morphology, elevated hazard, and reduced recyclability, which precludes the direct application of standard C&D approaches without prior risk reduction and robust quality control. For Ukraine, priorities are outlined: formal recognition of WUD in national waste lists, deployment of mobile and stationary debris-processing capacity, implementation of GIS-based monitoring, workforce training, and international coordination. The formal institutionalization of WUD and tailored standards are prerequisites for safe, timely, and resource-efficient post-crisis recovery.