On January 3–4, a large-scale fire raged in the Stentsivsko-Zhebriyanivski floodplains. As a result of the fire, 645 hectares of territory were destroyed in this part of the Danube Biosphere Reserve.
According to the State Environmental Inspection of the South-Western District, the damage to the atmosphere amounts to almost UAH 5 billion.
A massive blow to the environment
The fire destroyed the reeds and vegetation of the protected floodplains. This damaged the natural ecosystem, which will have a negative impact on the local fauna.
The fire also caused huge emissions of pollutants into the air. We're talking about almost 466,000 tons, of which almost 460,000 tons is carbon dioxide (CO2).
The materials and calculations from the environmental inspection have already been handed over to law enforcement. They must provide a legal assessment of the disaster and determine its causes.
The SEI reminds that burning reeds and dry vegetation is a violation of environmental legislation and entails legal liability.
EcoPolitic previously reported that large-scale fires have become one of the most significant environmental disasters in Ukraine. During 2025, 5,500 ha of forests burned in the country, as well as steppe, riverbanks, and peatlands.
