Removal of rare animals from «Askania-Nova» in Kherson region: losses estimated at ₴85.2 million

Reserve «Askania Nova». Photo: Ministry of Ecology

The reserve «Askania Nova» in the Kherson region suffered damage of 85 million 200 thousand hryvnias due to the export of rare animals.

This was reported by the first deputy of the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Southern District, Andrii Sydorenko, according to «Radio Liberty».

In February 2025, the Specialised Environmental Prosecutor's Office and the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office sent an indictment to court against the occupying head of «Askania Nova» Dmytro Meshcheriakov. He is accused of illegally exporting animals from the reserve, in particular, to the «Taihan» park in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The case was classified as a violation of the laws and customs of war, as, according to prosecutors, the looting of the reserve is a war crime and a violation of the Hague Convention IV.

The damage from the removal of rare animals was estimated at 85 million 200 thousand hryvnias. But the total damage from the actions of the occupation authorities has yet to be calculated, says Andrii Sydorenko, first deputy of the State Environmental Inspectorate of the Southern District.

«According to available information from the reserve's employees, who unfortunately are in the occupied territory, as well as from other sources, numerous cases of violations of environmental legislation have been recorded. There is a threat of losing unique natural complexes, as unauthorised logging, poaching, violation of the water regime of the territories, and the disappearance of unique animals found in this area may occur due to the lack of proper control,» he said.

Now the evacuated scientists of the reserve continue their research on the territory controlled by Ukraine. They go on expeditions, in particular to the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve. Both the occupied institution in the south and the liberated one in the north are home to Przewalski's horses, Director Shapoval said.

Earlier it was reported that Russia is destroying the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, located in the temporarily occupied Kherson region. The animals are taken from there to Crimea and the territory of the Russian Federation, but so far there is no talk of complete destruction of the protected area.