Environmental damage from fires in Mykolaiv region has already amounted to ₴1.36 billion

Forest fire in Mykolaiv region on 2 August 2025, photo: SES

The State Ecological Inspectorate of the South-Western Region has calculated the damage caused by fires to the environment of Mykolaiv region during the «fire-hazardous period» since April 2025 at 1.36 billion hryvnias.

This is stated in the article NikVesti «The forest is actually gone». Why is Mykolaiv region affected by fires and how does this affect the environment?»

Such damage, for example to a forest, is calculated by the number of trees destroyed, said an ecologist, head of the Mykolaiv branch of the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine, in a commentary to NikVesti. At the same time, he added, it is impossible to calculate the number of destroyed plants and dead animals, as the fire turns the area into a scorched earth.

«For example, we had a forest in Variushyne and the Andriivka reserve tract burning. They mainly count the damage, how many trees were burnt. There is a fixed fee there, so you can count. But of course, no one can count the number of insects, pheasants, birds, or plants, including those in the Red Book, that were burned. It is very difficult to calculate all this when instead of a protected tract, we got a burnt-out field», says Oleh Derkach.

The ecologist says that «we underestimate this damage», because it is not limited to environmental damage.

«For example, the destruction of vegetation is one harm. But after that, we provoke soil erosion, thus destroying it. This is a multidimensional damage: soil destruction, soil erosion, destruction of vegetation, fauna, air pollution and much more. The damage from fires is enormous», the ecologist explained.

As a reminder, massive fires are being recorded in the Mykolaiv region again. The SES is concerned about this and is appealing to people: «How many more fires will it take to reach the consciousness of citizens?», the emergency service writes.