In 2022, the landscape park became a Russian staging ground for shelling Ukraine. Previously, the picturesque sand dunes of the Kinburn Spit were home to hundreds of bird species, but now, due to enemy activity, this unique area has been virtually destroyed.
As noted by Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk on the TV channel “We Are Ukraine,” environmentalists are sounding the alarm and have asked him to raise this issue publicly, as it does not often appear in the media.
"This is only part of it. This is only what we know for sure and can see, what condition it is in now. Whether this reserve will be restored and when is currently unknown," Pletenchuk added.
An irreparable blow to the environment
Kinburn is just one of the painful examples of how the enemy is affecting the environment of southern Ukraine and its nature reserves. The Navy spokesman also mentions Askania-Nova, a reserve in the Kherson region, which has been under temporary occupation since 2022. He also does not ignore the destruction of dolphins, which are sensitive to environmental changes and explosions. Citing estimates by ecologists, he speaks of thousands of animals that have died.
The drift of oil slicks is another problem in the Black Sea basin. According to Pletenchuk, oil products have already reached the coast of Odesa region from the east. This is due to the local currents and was inevitable.
“This problem exists, and it is still unclear how long we will have to deal with its consequences. The same applies to the consequences of mining,” the Navy spokesman emphasizes.
Earlier, EcoPolitic reported that fires destroyed 602.1 hectares of vegetation on the Kinburn Spit.
