Drone-caused fire inflicts UAH 5 billion in damage on the Danube Biosphere Reserve

A large-scale fire that broke out on 3–4 January 2026 in the Stentsivsko-Zhebriianivski wetlands of the Danube Biosphere Reserve caused environmental damage estimated at approximately UAH 5 billion. This was reported by the State Ecological Inspectorate of the South‑Western District.

According to expert assessments, the fire destroyed about 645 hectares of wetland vegetation and reed beds, resulting in severe degradation of local ecosystems. Nearly 466,000 tonnes of pollutants were released into the atmosphere, including approximately 459,756 tonnes of carbon dioxide, contributing to air pollution and adverse climate impacts. The collected materials have been transferred to law-enforcement authorities for legal qualification and determination of the causes of the fire.

Earlier, on 2 January, the operational штаб of the Izmail District Military Administration reported that during an air attack involving a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle, a reed fire was recorded on Ankudyniv Island in the delta of the Danube. Due to difficult terrain, emergency services were initially unable to access the ignition site. The fire subsequently spread to lands of the Vylkove forestry and to Ochakivskyi Island, significantly increasing the affected area.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research :

“This incident represents not only an environmental disaster, but also a deliberate blow to one of the most valuable wetland ecosystems in Europe. Fires in the Danube Delta undermine biodiversity, accelerate carbon emissions, and weaken the region’s natural climate-regulation functions. The scale of damage demonstrates that environmental consequences of military actions must be treated as an integral component of war-related losses and documented accordingly at both national and international levels.”

Photo by State Ecological Inspectorate of the South‑Western District.