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  • Ukraine appeals to international environmental conventions to recognize as illegal actions of rf in the occupied nature reserves of Kherson region

    Ukraine has appealed to international environmental conventions to recognize russia's actions in the occupied nature reserves of Kherson region as illegal. This was stated by Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, in a telethon Yedyni Novyny (United News), commenting on the situation in the occupied national parks and reserves in Kherson region.

    In particular, he talked about the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, where russia has appointed its illegitimate leadership. "Askania-Nova has been under occupation since the first day of russia's full-scale invasion. Throughout the entire period, the institution has managed to maintain its distinctive historical collections and conduct research. Despite all the problems, Askania-Nova remained manageable to the last. However, on March 20, the occupation administration established de facto control over the reserve. 

    No less threatening is the situation in the Dzharylgach National Nature Park, whose territory russia is trying to turn into land for "hunting, fishing, catching and shooting wild animals."

    "The rashists are like barbarians, they basically do not understand what they are doing. They have already destroyed a large number of our valuable nature reserves, using our reserves as military bases and "parking lots" for tanks. The decisions they are making today are illegitimate. Recently, I signed the relevant appeals to the secretariats of international conventions so that, firstly, such activities of russia were condemned, and secondly, the process of non-recognition of these actions of the aggressor was initiated. Today we pay a lot of attention to international communication and international cooperation. I am confident that we must take all possible measures to stop russia at the diplomatic, communication levels as well as at the level of international condemnation," the Minister said.

    In particular, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources has already sent letters, the so-called notes, to the Secretariats of the Berne, Ramsar, and Bonn Conventions, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as to the Secretariat of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the National Commission for UNESCO.

    This will allow giving the issue wide publicity and involve the international community in solving the problem, as well as achieving fair punishment for the russian federation within the framework of these organizations.