Official announcements from international organizations such as the UN, EU, or World Bank

Russia Suspected as Toxic Spill Kills All Life Along 650km of Ukraine's Seym and Desna Rivers

Oct 1, 2024, 10:57 AM

Ukraine is rushing to address an environmental disaster after toxic chemicals were released into the Seym river in August, allegedly by Russian forces. The contamination has caused catastrophic damage to the river's ecosystem, killing all aquatic life over a stretch of 650 kilometers along the Seym and Desna rivers. Species affected include fish, molluscs, crayfish, and aquatic plants. Officials describe the event as unprecedented, stating 'Everything is dead. Not a single organism survived.' It is considered Europe's first completely dead river. Russia is suspected of deliberately leaking chemical waste into the Desna river, leading to deadly consequences for wildlife.