What is it about?
How can public information help people recognise the dangers posed by landmines and other explosive objects? This study examines how English- and Ukrainian-language educational materials communicate these risks through words, images, symbols, colours, photographs, and infographics. The research analyses around 100 materials published between 2022 and 2026 by Ukrainian and international organisations, government institutions, humanitarian operators, and civil protection services. The study identifies three main ways these materials communicate risk: explaining dangers and guiding behaviour, making risks personally relevant, and using visual and inclusive communication to reach different audiences. The findings show that risk communication is not simply about providing information. The way a warning is worded, illustrated, and presented can also influence how people understand danger and respond to it.
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Why is it important?
Ukraine faces the continuing danger of landmines and other explosive ordnance, making clear and effective public safety communication essential for protecting civilians. People need more than warnings: they need to understand the risks, recognise dangerous objects, and know what actions to take. This study contributes to that goal by comparing English- and Ukrainian-language risk education materials and examining how language works together with visual design. The analysis reveals differences in communication approaches: English-language materials tend to use more standardised explanations, while Ukrainian-language materials more often reflect the immediate realities of wartime and use direct instructions. The research also highlights the importance of inclusive communication. Information must be understandable and accessible to people with different abilities, backgrounds, and levels of experience. These insights can inform the development of clearer, more accessible, and context-sensitive educational materials for humanitarian organisations, civil protection services, teachers, and public information specialists in Ukraine and other conflict-affected settings.
Perspectives
For me, this research connects language studies with a practical humanitarian challenge that affects everyday life in Ukraine. Words, images, colours, and symbols in safety materials are not merely ways of presenting information: they can help people recognise danger and understand how to respond. I was particularly interested in comparing Ukrainian and English materials because risk communication must work across different linguistic and cultural contexts while remaining clear, actionable, and accessible. I hope this study encourages researchers and practitioners to pay greater attention to how safety messages are designed, whose needs they address, and whether they communicate effectively with diverse audiences. Ultimately, I hope our findings can contribute to more inclusive and effective risk education and help strengthen public safety communication in Ukraine and beyond.
Sergiy Sydoriv
Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: RISK COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH- AND UKRAINIAN-LANGUAGE EORE MATERIALS: A DISCURSIVE AND MULTIMODAL ANALYSIS, Folium, October 2026, Publishing House Helevetica,
DOI: 10.32782/folium/2026.9.31.
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