Fires in Chernihiv region and Chornobyl, smog spreads
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Wildfires are raging in the peatlands of Ukraine's Chernihiv region and the forests of the Chornobyl exclusion zone, leading to heavy smoke and the smell of burning in nearby areas, according to the Slavutych City Council and Suspilne Chernihiv.
According to the 63rd State Fire and Rescue Unit of Slavutych, the smoke engulfing the city originates from fires in the peatlands in northern Chernihiv and a forest fire in the Chornobyl zone.
The city council urges residents to remain calm and limit outdoor activities, especially in the early morning hours when smoke concentration is at its highest.
Meanwhile, Stanislav Yurchenko, Deputy Director of the Civil Protection and Defense Department of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, said that the smog is a result of a peat fire in the border area of the Snovsk town.
"Three kilometers from the Russian border, shelling continues, causing the smoke. The area is swampy, and the State Emergency Service cannot extinguish the fire at this time," Yurchenko said.
Environmental impact
Russia's war against Ukraine has significantly harmed the country's ecosystem. Occupying forces have triggered large-scale forest fires and destroyed flora and fauna across the nation.
Moreover, prolonged military actions in forested areas have also taken a toll on the environment.
On August 28, Vyshgorod Mayor Oleksii Momot reported the detection of a toxic substance in the Desna River, which he said is flowing downstream from the Russian border. The pollution of the Seim and Desna rivers was later discussed by the State Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergency Situations.
