The Russian Federation exports animals from the Askania Nova Reserve to Krasnodar Territory - CNS

Such actions are carried out as if in the framework of the "Cooperation Agreement". However, the Center for Resistance states that such an agreement cannot be valid. "The corresponding agreement is not valid, because it is signed by a Russian protector from the Ukrainian reserve. The Kherson Reserve was occupied in the spring of 2022. In July 2022, law enforcement officers opened criminal proceedings as a factor of seizure of the Russian Federation of the Biosphere Reserve.

The invaders hung Russian flag on the building and introduced a new director who previously worked at the Kherson Customs. However, according to the President of the Association of Zoo of Ukraine Volodymyr Topchy, for almost a year the invaders did not interfere with the activities of the institution, but in the spring of 2023 the occupying power created a new legal entity and changed the name of the reserve.

In March this year, the press service of the reserve reported that the occupation authorities arrived in the institution with its director of the reserve, which was appointed "Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Kherson Oblast". Employees also declared the storage of the reserve at the expense of charitable donations before the release of the Left Bank Kherson region from the occupation.

Already in the summer in the center of national resistance reported that the Russian authorities had restricted the movement of the reserve. Only certain areas could be visited. The Russian military was also repeatedly noticed in the territory. However, the purpose of their stay was unknown. The stay of Russian troops on the territory of "Askania Nova" caused numerous fires and losses of nature. Thus, during the occupation of the reserve, at least 7 fires occurred in the territory.

The greatest losses were caused as a result of fires on August 22 and September 1 this year. It was reported that all burned areas are located in the steppe biotopes, which are the main natural value of the reserve. Also, as reported by Presidential Office Andriy Yermak reported, after occupation in the territories of the reserve, the Russian military arrange parking for tanks, hunting grounds and mines.

In particular, in the territory of the reserve "Askania Nova" troops of the Russian Federation went heavy equipment and dug trenches. We will remind, during the stay of the Russian military in the Kiev region, in the zoo "XII months" animals died from cold and famine. When the food reserves ended in the zoo, the invaders were banned from supply to the institution. Animals were able to survive only thanks to the employees who left them to look after them.