Invaders Blow up Ships near Kherson, Creating Serious Environmental Threat

Russian occupiers are using explosives to blow up the ships near the piers and berths of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region. As a result, tonnes of oil and fuel ended up in the river, Head of Kherson Regional Military Administration Yaroslav Yanushevych has said.

“The current carries harmful substances into the Dnipro delta, towards the preserved area of the Nyzhniodniprovsky National Nature Park. These areas are protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which are of international importance mainly as habitats for waterfowl. Therefore, this environmental disaster may have international consequences,” the official said.

According to preliminary estimates, up to 10 tonnes of fuel and lubricants got into the water.

“This can lead to the destruction of river flora and fauna, as well as to the poisoning of the area for decades. In the future, hazardous substances may also reach the Black Sea,” Yanushevych emphasised.

He added that in order to eliminate the consequences, it is necessary to block oil spills as soon as possible and collect them. However, Ukraine cannot do this because it does not have access to the occupied territories. To record the actions of the occupiers, Kherson Regional Military Administration turned to law enforcement agencies.

As a reminder, the Rashists continue the so-called “evacuation” from Kherson. For this, almost all ships are taken away for the crossing of equipment and personnel to the left bank of Dnipro. The boats and vessels that cannot be used are damaged or destroyed.

Bohdan Marusyak