Russians smuggle animals from Askania Nova reserve to Crimea and Russia

He said this on Espreso TV.

"Yes, indeed, a representative of the Russian Federation, Oleg Zubkov, who allegedly takes care of animals, came to the Askania Nova reserve from the temporarily occupied Crimea. They are transporting animals towards Crimea and to the territory of the Russian Federation. They openly declare this and it is a constant process. The occupiers call it an exchange of funds," Sobolevsky said.

According to the deputy regional councilor, the Russians continue to loot in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

"The occupiers allegedly brought animals to the Askania Nova reserve from the territory of the Russian Federation. However, we have no confirmation of this information. We have confirmation that they were taking animals from Askania Nova to Crimea and beyond. Therefore, they continue to loot our temporarily occupied territories," he added.

• On June 27, the Center of National Resistance reported that Russians were bringing food industry workers from the Rostov region and Crimea on "excursions" to imitate tourism in the temporarily occupied regions, including the Askania Nova biosphere reserve.