(Updated: )
Editor's note: The article was updated with statements from the forestry authorities and the State Emergency Service.
Kyiv authorities warned about sharp and "temporary deterioration" of air quality in Kyiv on Sept. 20 due to the accumulation of harmful substances.
The likely cause is fires in Kyiv Oblast that released large amounts of dust particles in the air, the environmental department of the Kyiv city military administration said.
Authorities warned on Sept. 16 that the air quality in the capital may worsen due to fires in the Vyshhorod district of Kyiv Oblast. Large-scale fires were also recorded elsewhere in Ukraine recently amid dry weather and – in some areas – constant Russian attacks.
The IQAir air quality index places Kyiv as the second most polluted city in the world as of 12:30 p.m., with only Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo ranked higher. Earlier in the morning, Kyiv was ranked as the city with the most polluted air in the world.
Kyiv has a rating of 156 on the 0-500 scale, which is classified as "unhealthy" and calls for reduced outdoor exertion by residents of the affected area. The pollution level is currently nine times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.
This is an improvement compared to 11 a.m. when Kyiv's air pollution index was 181 and 19.7 times the WHO guideline value.
The Kyiv city authorities called upon the residents to close windows, avoid staying outdoors, drink lots of water, and turn on air purifiers. The pollutants recorded in the air included nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone.
Forestry authorities said at 9:20 a.m. that "all forest fires in Kyiv Oblast had been extinguished" and that the smog in the capital appeared due to other reasons.
Yurii Bolokhovets, the head of Ukraine's forestry authorities, later clarified that the likely cause was a burning peat bog in the Desna community in Chernihiv Oblast near the administrative border with Kyiv Oblast.
Only one forest fire appeared on the territory of Kyiv Oblast, which was promptly localized and extinguished, Bolokhovets said.
The State Emergency Service told Suspilne that a peat bog fire covering an area smaller than 1 hectare also erupted in Kyiv Oblast near the village of Fenevychi.
Kyiv has been ranked among the 30 cities with the cleanest air both in 2022 and 2023.
Nate Ostiller
