The fires caused more than 3 billion in environmental damage in the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions

Since the beginning of 2026, the damage caused by fires in natural ecosystems in the Odesa region has exceeded 3 billion hryvnias, and in the Mykolaiv region—more than 814 million.

This was reported by the press service of the State Environmental Inspection of the Southwestern District.

 In the past week alone, fires have swept through nearly 200 hectares in the Odesa region; the causes of the fires include both military shelling and human negligence — careless handling of fire, the setting of fires in dry vegetation, and the burning of plant debris. In dry ecosystems, even a small fire can quickly turn into a large-scale blaze.

Fire destroys vegetation, animals, and their habitats; damages soil; and releases pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as it burns.

During July 2026, 57 fires were recorded in natural ecosystems across the Mykolaiv region—forest strips, deadwood, shrubs, crop residues, and grain fields were ablaze. Fire destroys not only the harvest and the labor of Ukrainian farmers but also the protected areas of our environment.

Based on operational reports from the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Mykolaiv region, inspection specialists conducted 60 assessments of the damage caused to the atmosphere as a result of fires in open areas.

Overall consequences of the July fires on the region’s ecosystems: total area affected by fires—the flames engulfed more than 313.5 hectares of open natural areas.

Кирило Бойко