Due to Kakhovka HPP dam explosion, Velykyi Luh and Kamianska Sich National Parks gradually turn into deserts

This is reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. 

The land area of these parks is expected to double, totaling thousands of hectares. Velykyi Luh will expand by more than 7 thousand hectares, and the Kamianska Sich park will grow by 5.5 thousand hectares.

The State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine has already estimated the damages caused to these territories. The estimated damages are: 

• over 15 billion hryvnias for Velykyi Luh,
• more than 73 billion hryvnias for Kamianska Sich.

"It is ironic that while the whole civilized world is celebrating the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought and working against this problem, we are discussing the consequences of Russian aggression on Ukrainian land. The international community should not overlook this ecological aggression by the aggressor country," emphasized Ruslan Strilets who heads the Ministry of Environmental Protection. 

• In response to the situation, the authorities in Odesa have prohibited residents from swimming in the region's reservoirs and engaging in fishing due to the discovery of a high number of dangerous infections in the water.