Kyiv repelled Russian forces by opening a Soviet-era dam on the Irpin River. Now, ecologists hope Ukraine’s newest wetlands can survive, or even thrive, after the war

There’s an acrid smell in the air and an unsettling crunch underfoot as we step over the metallic black and gold detritus of war. Ahead of us, framed by tree branches amputated by tank shells and mortar fire, the sky is reflecting brilliantly on the shimmering flood waters.

After negotiating more than a dozen army checkpoints within the thick forests of Kyiv’s outer boundary, we have reached the flooded village of Demydiv on the Irpin River and the long-lost wetland basin, which has returned after the dam was opened by Ukrainian troops defending the capital from Russian army units, and was later struck by a missile.

The newly restored wetland basin in Demydiv, Ukraine

Continue reading…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Biden ‘doing just fine’ after testing positive for Covid, White House says

Ashish Jha, coronavirus response coordinator, says president contracted BA.5 variant and is…

Homelessness charities fear target to end rough sleeping by 2024 will be missed

Rishi Sunak told his government appears to be going backwards on pledge…

Matt Hancock refuses to say when social care ‘injustices’ will be fixed

Health secretary will not reveal whether long-promised reforms will be in Queen’s…

First jury trial of Insulate Britain activists begins over M25 blockage

Jurors told to put aside views about climate protests as four people…