With the onset of warm spring days in Ukraine, the season of dry vegetation burning has begun again.
EcoPolitic decided to remind you why mass burning of grass and leaves is an evil that not only harms the environment and poses a serious threat to human health, but also entails huge fines.
Alarming statistics
According to the State Agency of Forest Resources, in 2025, 50 fires have already been recorded in the ecosystems of Ukraine in 2.5 months, 48 of which occurred in March alone.
SaveDnipro's SaveEcoBot system reports that in early March, the number of fire outbreaks in Ukraine reached almost 3,000. This data comes from NASA's FIRMS satellite system and is updated every hour.
You can see the seasonality of this phenomenon most clearly in the diagram “History of fires in Ukraine”:
Source: saveecobot.com.
It is worth noting that fires are recorded all over Ukraine, not just in the war zones. This indicates that the main cause of fires is the human factor – the burning of dead wood.
Why should we not burn dry vegetation?
By setting fire to dry grass and leaves, you are contributing to the fires:
- Filling the air with toxic substances that can cause cancer and other serious diseases. And this is what you, your family, and others will breathe for a second.
- You worsen the condition of the soil, reducing its fertility. And then you want to harvest good crops or mow good hay.
- You destroy flora and fauna: animals, insects, and beneficial microorganisms die.
- You cause uncontrolled fires that can spread to homes, forests, and agricultural land. Every year, people die in such fires, including people.
- You are exposing yourself to administrative or criminal liability with hefty fines.
Liability for arson
Those who intentionally burn dead wood can be fined:
- citizens – from UAH 3,060 to UAH 6,120;
- officials – from UAH 15,300 to UAH 21,420.
If the violation occurred within a nature reserve fund, the fines are doubled.
If the fire you caused causes significant damage, you may also be held criminally liable.
What should you do if you witness an arson?
If you notice someone setting fire to dry vegetation, don't be indifferent! Call the following numbers immediately:
- 101 – State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
- 102 – National Police of Ukraine.
Protecting nature is everyone's responsibility! Do not burn dry vegetation – protect your health and the environment!
In early January, EcoPolitic reported that the Oscars were postponed in the United States due to a large-scale fire.
We also talked about the dangers of pine forests planted “to fit the line”.
