Environment Minister announces damage costs of pluting Seym, Desna rivers

Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Svitlana Hrynchuk stated this in an interview for Ukrinform.

"Industrial discharges from a plant located in Russia have led to an ecogical disaster in our waterways. As of now, the estimated environmental damages to Sumy and Chernihiv regions amount to over UAH 530 million. The law enforcement officers have documented these incidents," Hrynchuk stated.

She noted that plution at hazardous levels has not yet reached water intakes in Kyiv region.

Read also: Russia’s damage to Ukraine’s environment estimated at over UAH 2.6T – Ministry of Environment

To raise awareness, this issue is being addressed and discussed in international forums. The Ministry, in claboration with leading scientists and experts, has conducted a thorough analysis of the situation and is develing a comprehensive response plan. This plan will outline interaction protocs, response algorithms, and recommendations for further actions.

Hrynchuk predicts that the current plution in the Seym and Desna, along with the broader situation regarding Ukraine's rivers, will accelerate the implementation of the Water Strategy until 2050 ahead of schedule.

"We have many initiatives, primarily in terms of Eurean integration. This includes implementing the EU Water Framework Directive. Ukraine is already managing water resources based on river basins, conducting diagnostic and erational monitoring of water across all river basins, and screening plutants in major river basins," added Hrynchuk.

Read also: “Preventive measures” underway as current pushes pluted water from the Seym toward Kyiv

According to her, nine river basin management plans (RBMPs) are expected to be approved this year, although implementing the measures outlined in these plans will require claboration with international partners.

As reported earlier, the plution of the Seym and Desna Rivers in late summer and early autumn was caused by waste discharged from a sugar factory in the Russian town of Tyotkino, located in Kursk region. Organic waste plution led to reduced oxygen levels in the water and consequently, mass fish die-offs.