This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces
According to confirmed information, the Russian occupying forces connected the island of Dzharylhach with the occupied mainland part of the Kherson region in the area of the settlement of Lazurne, covering the crossing to the island with sand. This was done with the aim of more intensive use of the nature conservation area of the national park for military purposes.
Head of the United Coordination Press Center of the Security and Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, Natalia Humeniuk, noted that the occupiers are trying to prepare places for personnel training on Dzharylgach Island, even though it is a protected zone.
Yevhen Khlobystov, an expert of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, spoke about the consequences of the activities of the Russian troops on the territory of the island and part of the adjacent water area, which is part of the Dzharylhach National Nature Park.
“Interference with the ecosystem integrity of the reserve will mean unforeseen damage to the main subjects of nature protection. Currently, there are about 500 species of plants on the island, of which 54 are endemic and sub-endemic, unique birds are pelicans, waders, puffins, shearwaters, large gatherings of swans and ducks are observed during migration flights. Three species of dolphins are observed near the skeleton: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates), bottlenose dolphin (Dephinus delphis), and bottlenose dolphin (Phocoena phocoena). Unique plants are the painted cornflower, Venetian kendir, cowslip, etc. Uncontrolled military influence can destroy unique landscapes and ecosystems that cannot be restored. It is about purposeful destruction of unique ecosystems”,- the expert emphasized.
Khlobystov also emphasized that the territory of the island should be monitored using remote methods, through satellites, in order for Ukrainian society to be able to obtain evidence of an unacceptable attitude towards the nature protection object. However, Ukraine cannot prevent the military use of Dzharylhach Island.
We remind you that the island of Dzharylhach is located in the Karkinit Bay of the Black Sea. It is the largest island of Ukraine and the Black Sea. Administratively, it belongs to the Skadovsk district of the Kherson region. The entire territory of the island and part of the adjacent water area is part of the Dzharylhach National Nature Park, which is a nature conservation area.