The occupiers turned a unique forest into ruins in Donetsk region

The occupiers turned a unique forest into ruins in Donetsk region facebook.com/ForestsOfUkraine
Katerina Belousova

Before the full-scale invasion, the forest was a favorite recreation spot for the residents of the region

In Donetsk region, the occupiers turned the Yampil Forestry into ruins, in particular, shelling destroyed administrative buildings, damaged trees, and created ravines from direct hits.

Despite the fact that the territory was de-occupied, it is currently impossible to calculate the damage, because it is dangerous to be in the territory, reports the state enterprise Forests of Ukraine on Facebook.

facebook.com/ForestsOfUkraine

The report said that the territory of forestry reaches 7.6 thousand hectares, and a large part of it belongs to the "Holy Mountains" national park. Currently, Yampil Forestry is located 4.6 km from the contact line.

facebook.com/ForestsOfUkraine

The press service emphasized that before the full-scale invasion, this forest was a favorite place of recreation for residents of the region, and its recreational activities brought in about 2 million hryvnias of income per year. In the forest there was an eco-trail with 12 stops, a forest lake, a ferry crossing, an arboretum and a zoo.

facebook.com/ForestsOfUkraine

It is noted that forestry recovered after the beginning of Russian aggression in 2014 and continued to develop. But for now, the occupiers have turned it into ruins.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the Russian occupiers in the occupied Ukrainian territories stole not only grain, but also wood, cutting down forests. They use felled trees both to strengthen their positions and for commercial purposes.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has begun work on developing a program to attract funds for the restoration of Ukrainian forestry.

Related
Digest of environmental crimes: illegal tree felling and the protection of nature reserves
Digest of environmental crimes: illegal tree felling and the protection of nature reserves

Dozens of crimes relate to the destruction of forests – involving officials, businesspeople and ordinary citizens driven by greed

The transition to nature-based forestry is set to begin in the mountain forests of the Carpathians
The transition to nature-based forestry is set to begin in the mountain forests of the Carpathians

Forests comprising trees of different species, ages and heights are more resilient to changes in the weather and better able to withstand pests

Work has been underway for over a month to clean up oil products from Kyrylivske Lake and the Syrets Stream in the capital
Work has been underway for over a month to clean up oil products from Kyrylivske Lake and the Syrets Stream in the capital

Council workers are removing contaminated plants and treating the areas with sorbent

The felling of century-old oak trees in Teremky: the ‘Sustainability Plan’ served as a pretext for the felling
The felling of century-old oak trees in Teremky: the ‘Sustainability Plan’ served as a pretext for the felling

According to campaigners, the government’s experiment threatens to destroy green spaces across the country