96% of the protected Kinburn Spit was destroyed by fires due to military actions by the Russian Federation

96% of the protected Kinburn Spit was destroyed by fires due to military actions by the Russian Federation
Hanna Velyka

The damage calculated by eco-inspectors amounts to almost 300 billion hryvnias

The territory of the Kinburn Peninsula has suffered devastating consequences due to the hostilities – 96% of its land area has been destroyed by fire.

These figures were released by the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

There are three protected areas within the Kinburn Spit:

  • Regional landscape park "Kinburnska Kosa" – 602.1 hectares of forests and other vegetation were destroyed here by fires;
  • Black Sea Biosphere Reserve – 121.7 hectares burned;
  • National Nature Park "Biloberezhya Svyatoslav" – 6,865.6 hectares of territory were affected by the fires.

The calculation of the damage caused by the hostilities was carried out by specialists from the State Environmental Inspectorate of the Southwestern District. They used remote sensing data, including satellite images, maps of the general impression during the war period, additional written materials, and others.

As a result, the total amount of damage caused by air pollution due to emissions of pollutants on land plots reached almost UAH 300 billion.

The collected materials, together with the damage report and damage calculations, will be used as evidence of the damage caused by the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

In June 2024, EcoPolitic wrote that, according to environmentalists, the damage to the nature of the Kinburn Spit after the occupation will be estimated at billions.

Related
This week’s round-up of environmental crimes: tree felling, environmental pollution and theft of mineral resources
This week’s round-up of environmental crimes: tree felling, environmental pollution and theft of mineral resources

Separately, prosecutors are attempting to return land belonging to the water, forestry and nature reserve funds to the state

As a result of the shelling, petroleum products have entered Kyiv’s lakes
As a result of the shelling, petroleum products have entered Kyiv’s lakes

Staff from the State Emergency Service have set up oil booms to contain the fuel spill

The fire has engulfed thousands of hectares of the occupied nature reserve
The fire has engulfed thousands of hectares of the occupied nature reserve

Fires have destroyed areas of virgin steppe containing rare plants