Environmental consequences of the war: destruction of Kinburn Spit and death of animals
The full-scale war waged by Russia against Ukraine has led to significant environmental damage, including the destruction of the unique Kinburn Spit Park and the death of thousands of animals. This was reported by the representative of the Naval Forces, Dmytro Pletenchuk.
Kinburn Spit, a nature reserve in the south of the Mykolaiv region, was practically destroyed as a result of the hostilities. Before the occupation, 283 species of birds and 45 species of animals listed in the Red Book lived in this area. A similar situation has developed in the state reserve Askania-Nova, located in the Kherson region, which has also suffered significant damage.
Hostilities around the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula negatively affect the ecosystem of the Black Sea. Environmentalists report the death of thousands of dolphins since the beginning of the conflict. Cases of oil pollution on the coast of Odesa have been recorded.
Dmytro Pletenchuk emphasized that the environmental problems caused by the war will remain relevant for a long time. He expressed concern that the duration of their resolution is still unknown. Issues with demining the territories also remain relevant.
Before the conflict began, Kinburn Spit had important strategic significance. It is from this territory that Russian troops strike the Mykolaiv region and block shipping.
| Environmental Problem | Location | Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Destruction of Kinburn Spit | Mykolaiv region | Loss of 283 bird species, 45 Red List species |
| Problems in Askania-Nova | Kherson region | Significant environmental damage |
| Death of dolphins | Black Sea | Thousands of dead dolphins |
| Pollution of Odesa | Odesa coast | Massive oil spills |
