Environmental Damage from Nizhnednistrovsky Fire Estimated at ₴125M

Environmentalists have calculated the environmental damage caused by a large-scale fire that broke out on the territory of the Nizhnednistrovsky National Nature Park on March 18.

This was reported by the press service of the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Southwestern District.

According to experts, the damage was estimated at 125 million hryvnias, and 32 thousand tons of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere.

At the time, the fire engulfed more than 45 hectares of reedbeds between the village of Mayaki and the town of Bilyayivka in Odesa region. The preliminary cause of the fire is believed to be an intentional arson attack by an unidentified person.

"Spring is the time of nature's renewal, but every year it is destroyed by irresponsible arson. Burning grass and reeds is a threat to everyone," the statement said.

According to Maryna Averina, a spokeswoman for the State Emergency Service in Odesa Oblast, the number of fires in natural ecosystems in the region has increased dramatically due to the burning of dry vegetation and garbage. According to her, since the beginning of 2025, almost 500 such incidents have already occurred, and the fire has destroyed about 300 hectares of land. This is despite the fact that the official fire danger period has not even begun yet.

The main cause of fires is the human factor. People burn dry grass in their yards and fields, and due to the dry weather, even a small fire spreads quickly, turning into large-scale fires. Rescuers are reminded that such actions are subject to fines: up to UAH 3,360 for violating waste disposal rules and up to UAH 12,240 for unauthorized burning of stubble, meadows or pastures.

Recently, environmentalists calculated the environmental damage caused by a fire at a children's toy warehouse in Odesa on March 10. Almost 206 tons of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere. And the environmental damage caused by the Russian air strike on Odesa on February 19 was estimated at a quarter of a million hryvnias.

Андрій Колісніченко