Russia has accused Kyiv of committing environmental crimes in the Ukrainian territories that its troops currently occupy, including soil contamination caused by exploding artillery shells, the state-run TASS news agency reported.
Moscow said it will begin collecting evidence of Ukraine's "ecocidal violations" in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which it claims to have annexed last September, compiling them into a so-called “White Book.”
“We want to record where ecosystems have been destroyed and compile it as a collection,” deputy head of Russia's Natural Resources Ministry Konstantin Tsyganov said at an environmental conference in Rostov-on-Don on Thursday.
“We are starting the work this year, and from next year onwards, we will fill this White Book with details," the official added.
Russian authorities claim that shells used by the Ukrainian army have led to “colossal” contamination of the soil with zinc, phosphorus and lead, as well as habitat loss in areas that have witnessed fighting.
"Military actions from the Ukrainian side result in ecocide in this territory, but Russia will restore soils, forests, water bodies and improve the environmental situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions," said Elena Zlenko, a former senator from Russia's upper-chamber Federation Council who is now involved in environmental issues.
Moscow also blames Ukraine for the June 6 destruction of a Kakhovka dam, which caused devastating floods and forced thousands to flee.
But Kyiv says Russian troops blew up the Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River, describing its destruction as "ecocide."
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Zlenko is currently a member of the Federation Council.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
