According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian troops occupying the Kherson region are causing significant damage to the occupied Askania-Nova biosphere reserve in southern Ukraine. The head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine on August 19 that the reserve no longer exists.

Askania-Nova, a biosphere reserve in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast in Ukraine, is home to over 200 plant species and diverse wildlife, including Przewalski’s horses and Turkmen kulans. The ongoing Russian occupation poses a serious threat to this unique ecosystem and its inhabitants.

“The last I heard they were taking animals to Crimea and Russia. So you could say the reserve no longer exists. They plundered it in a capitalist way.”, said Prokudin.

However, the director of the Askania-Nova reserve, Viktor Shapoval, partially refuted these claims in a comment to Suspilne. While Shapoval confirmed that the animals are indeed being relocated, he stressed that although the reserve was severely damaged, it was not completely destroyed.

“This is an ongoing process, not a completed fact. So far, 20 animals have been brought to Russia and the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. Some animals died due to neglect, lack of qualified scientific support and veterinary care. A significant part of the protected steppe – over 2,000 hectares – has burned due to fires of various kinds.”, Shapoval explained.

He said these incidents were being documented by a special commission of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration and the State Environmental Inspectorate, and several criminal cases had already been initiated.

Related: