Russian occupiers pillage Askania-Nova Nature Reserve, committing ecocide

Russian occupiers have stolen animals from the Askania-Nova nature reserve in Kherson Oblast, according to the Ukrainian National Resistance Center (NRC) on Nov. 7.

“The occupying administration is transporting these animals to the Safari Park Zoo in Krasnodar, Russia,” the NRC said.

Read also: Russia connects Dzharylhach island with mainland Kherson Oblast

“This act is being carried out under the pretext of a "cooperation agreement," which is invalid because it is signed by a Russian puppet who lacks legitimate authority as the reserve's director.”

“In reality, the enemy is simply stealing animals and destroying a unique nature reserve.”

Additionally, the NRC reported that Russian military personnel have been observed on the reserve's premises.

Read also: Wildfires completely destroy protected area at Russian-occupied Dzharylhach island

In a previous report, activists from the UAnimals movement said that the occupiers had effectively established their own administration at the Askania-Nova biosphere reserve.

In November 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was committing ecocide in Ukraine, with hectares of forest burned and millions of domestic and wild animals killed as a result of the fighting.

In March 2023, the Investigative Journalism Center, citing Russian registration documents, reported that the Russian occupiers were planning to shoot wild animals in the Dzharylhach National Nature Park, which is located in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine