Ukraine claims Russia deliberately dumped toxic chemicals into a river, leading to mass wildlife deaths and fears of long-term environmental damage.
Luke Harding and Artem Mazhulin report for The Guardian.
In short:
- Ukrainian officials say Russia poisoned the Seym and Desna rivers, causing a massive die-off of fish and other species.
- Over 650 kilometers of the rivers are polluted, with Ukrainian environmental officials calling it Europe's first "completely dead river."
- Emergency measures are in place to protect Kyiv's water supply, but the situation remains critical as long as fighting continues.
Key quote:
"More than 650 km is polluted. Not a single organism survived. This is unprecedented. It’s Europe’s first completely dead river."
— Serhiy Zhuk, head of Chernihiv’s ecology inspectorate
Why this matters:
The poisoning threatens Ukrainian ecosystems and water supplies, potentially impacting millions of people. It highlights the environmental toll of Russia’s war on Ukraine, which has already damaged national parks, forests and wildlife.
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