Forest fires ignited by Russian shelling have devastated Ukraine's Drevlyansky reserve.
BBC security correspondent
He is a forest ranger in Ukraine's Drevlyansky nature reserve, helping to patrol what once was a pristine sanctuary for wildlife in northern Ukraine. With its marshes, lakes, woods and heathland, it is a place so rich in wildlife it has even been called Europe's Amazon. "Russian land mines," Mr Alexandrovitch says, perched on a fallen log beside a forest track. "That's the worst legacy left behind by the invasion. That and the forest fires they set off with their shell fire."The Russians invaded Ukraine on 24 February from three sides - from the north in Belarus, their own territory in the east, and Crimea which they had seized and annexed in 2014.
Shells also landed on the nearby town of Narodychi where, according to the Ukrainians, local collaborators helped the invading Russians by guiding their artillery fire towards concentrations of troops. The Russian invasion is not the first disaster Polesia has endured. On 26 April 1986, reactor number four in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, sending a plume of highly radioactive particles right across Europe and contaminating parts of northern Ukraine with radionuclides.
"There have been two wolf packs in this region, and the Polesian wolf is one of the largest in the world," Mr Alexandrovitch explains. "Before Chernobyl, they used to skirt around the villages but now, if it suits them, they would come straight through them at night."
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine War Diaries: The cruel cost of liberating Ukraine from RussiaOne frontline military volunteer counts the cost of recent gains, as US President Joe Biden warns that world is risking 'nuclear Armageddon'.
Read more »
Aston Villa boss Gerrard insists Cooper 'deserves time' at Nottm Forest after 'unique' summerAston Villa manager Steven Gerrard believes Steve Cooper 'deserves time' at Nottingham Forest amid their poor start to the 2022/23 campaign.
Read more »
Steve Cooper signs shock new Forest deal despite club sitting bottom of tableSteve Cooper has received the best vote of confidence over Nottingham Forest’s shocking start by being rewarded with a new contract. The newly-promoted side sit rock bottom of the Premier Lea…
Read more »
Forest boss Cooper signs new deal until 2025Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper signs a new contract with the club until 2025.
Read more »
Bold Cooper contract decision praised by Forest supporters' trust, with fans '100% behind him'Forest’s decision to hand Cooper a new contract will help keep everyone on 'the same page', according to the supporters’ trust.
Read more »