Employees of the occupied nature reserve in Kherson region have not been paid salaries

The temporarily occupied part of the left-bank Kherson region is facing a funding crisis. Employees of the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, seized by the occupiers, have not been paid since July 2025.

This was reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism, citing its own sources.

The situation, which was first discussed in August, has only worsened. In their appeal, published on propaganda Telegram channels, the employees of the reserve reported bullying: ''People have been without pay for four months. The management has forced everyone to write two letters of resignation - one for dismissal and one for further employment, but with half the salary. At the same time, no one has paid the salary debt, and the promise to sort it out from the occupation 'governor' Vladimir Saldo remained unfulfilled.

According to the sources of the Center for Investigative Journalism in the TOT, the last time the Russians paid only an advance for July 2025. The main reason for the financial collapse was the chaotic reorganization with the transfer of employees from one occupation structure to another - from the regional to the federal Russian budget.

At the same time, the administration of the 'reserve' under the leadership of Olena Nozdrina remains under the regional subordination of the 'Ministry of Natural Resources' of the occupation authorities. The Crisis Group source notes that the administration retains a large staff of deputies, including the brother of the 'minister' Nikolai Bystryantsev, which indicates lobbying amid the confusion.

Due to the fuss with transfers, lobbying and lack of payments, many people have already resigned from the 'reserve' and are forced to look for work elsewhere.

Катерина Глушко