Shallowing of the Berezan River in Mykolaiv region caused a massive fish pestilence

A massive fish kill was recorded in the reservoir of the village of Nechayne in Mykolaiv region. The cause was a critical lack of oxygen in the water due to prolonged heat and overheating. No signs of chemical contamination were found.

This situation was reported by the Nechayan territorial community. Among the dead fish species are crucian carp, pike, pike perch, ram, and carp. The fish deaths were recorded by specialists of the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Southwestern District.

The community explains that this is a consequence of the shallowing of the Berezan River, which has been repeatedly reported by the state authorities. In particular, on June 11, 2025, deputies of the Nechayan village council appealed to the chairman of the parliamentary agrarian committee, Oleksandr Haida, and the head of the Mykolaiv regional administration, Vitaliy Kim, to initiate a systematic solution to the problem. The appeal emphasized that the decline in the water level in the Berezan leads to overgrowth of the river, deterioration of the oxygen balance, death of aquatic fauna, and a reduction in underground aquifers through which residents receive drinking water. Currently, the river's water content is maintained artificially through discharges from the Kovalivka Water Management Complex.

The regional office has already appealed to the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine with a proposal to amend the state water supply program until 2030. However, according to the community, no concrete actions have been taken so far.

Similar appeals were sent by residents of the villages of Nechayne, Danylivka and Lukianivka, through which the river flows. In wartime, most families here live off of private farming. However, due to the shallowing of the river, the community has partially lost the source of water for livestock. So far, the problem has only been partially solved.

Currently, Mykolaiv region is experiencing a dry period due to extreme heat. Soil surface temperatures in the fields are reaching up to +70°C. Due to the weather conditions, farmers in Mykolaiv region are sometimes ending the growing season ahead of schedule. Every day the temperature in Mykolaiv region exceeded +30°C, and on some days +35°C and above. At the same time, the soil surface heated up to +63...+70 °C. That year, the drought also had a negative impact on yields. Thus, in 2024, farmers harvested 180 thousand tons of early grains less than in 2023. In addition, the harvest of sunflower and corn is expected to be significantly lower.

The extreme heat has been adversely affecting the health of residents of Mykolaiv region for several days in a row. People are fainting as a result of heat strokes right on the streets. The weather forecasts for the coming week do not promise any significant changes, but short-term rain is expected at the end of the week.

Катерина Глушко