A unique center for urban bat rescue and monitoring in Ukraine - history from a war zone

The urban landscapes of Ukrainian cities have become important winter habitats for bats due to the abundance of multi-storey Soviet-era buildings, which offer numerous roosting opportunities. Over the past 40-50 years, both the number of bat records and the diversity of bat species have significantly increased. Kharkiv city (north-eastern Ukraine), as a case study area, demonstrates this trend clearly, with notable changes in bat species composition and abundance over recent decades. Seasonal analysis showed that bats tend to occupy cities primarily when their food requirements are lower and food availability is limited. The full-scale war in Ukraine has dramatically altered the urban environment of Kharkiv, transforming previously suitable roosting sites into dangerous traps for bats. The war has not only increased direct threats to bats but also significantly shifted their phenology and spatial distribution within the city. The resilience of urban bat populations in Ukraine demonstrates the need for adaptive conservation strategies and continued international collaboration, particularly in conflict zones.