20,000 people chose to be part of the Kyiv Independent community — thank you.

Skip to content
Edit post

Kherson Oblast nature reserve damaged but not fully destroyed by Russia, director clarifies

by Daria Svitlyk August 19, 2024 2:10 PM 2 min read
A zebra walks on the property of Askania-Nova Zoo years before the outbreak of the full-scale war on May 4, 2015, in Askania-Nova, Kakhovka District, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine. (Les Kasyanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

The Askania-Nova Nature Reserve in Kherson Oblast suffered heavily under Russian occupation but has not been fully destroyed as of now, the reserve's director, Viktor Shapoval, said in a comment for Suspilne on Aug. 19

Shapoval was reacting to a statement by Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin for the media that the reserve effectively ceased to exist because of Russia.

"The Russian military destroyed the Kahkovka hydroelectric power plant, flooding the region, and the famous Nature Reserve Askania-Nova was looted," Prokudin said in an interview with RBC Ukraine.

"The last thing I heard was that they are taking the animals to Crimea and Russia. That is, we can say that the reserve no longer exists. They robbed it thoroughly."

Askania-Nova is a biosphere reserve located in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, that fell under Russian occupation from the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to Shapoval, Prokudin's words were likely taken out of context. The animals are being illegally taken away, but the reserve is far from being completely destroyed, he said.

The management head stressed, however, that the reserve suffered heavily as a result of Russian aggression, with many animals dying due to neglect and a large part of the steppes burning down.

Ukraine's National Resistance Center reported last November that Russian occupying forces were moving the animals from the Askania-Nova Nature Reserve to a safari park in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai.

Russian troops reportedly took several Chapman's zebras, American bison, Przewalski's horses, and Père David's deers from the Askania Zoo.

All these species have the status of "close to extinction," "endangered," and "close to endangered" and are listed in the Red Book and the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

Donetsk bear adopted by Scottish zoo dies after medical procedure
Yampil, a bear that was evacuated from a zoo in Donetsk Oblast in 2022, has died after not waking up from anesthesia, Five Sisters Zoo in Scotland announced on July 13.

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

More than 20,000 people chose to stand behind us. We’re deeply grateful and overwhelmed with your support. Thank you for making it possible.

Let´s see how far we can go?

News Feed

8:42 PM

Egyptian POW didn't need money, but went to fight for Russia.

Egyptian-born Russian fighter, callsign "Cobra," signed a contract with the Russian army in 2024, abandoning his young wife, university studies and comfortable lifestyle. Now in Ukrainian prison, he's rethinking his choices. Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.