In January 2026, the Russian government announced the creation of the “Velykyi Luh” National Park in the occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The new nature reserve covers an area of approximately 16,700 hectares and completely overlaps with the boundaries of the Ukrainian national park of the same name. The park includes the former territories of the Kakhovka Reservoir, the islands of Velyki Kuchugury and Mali Kuchugury, a stretch of coastline between Skalky and Enerhodar, as well as the Mayachanska Balka and the Bilozerske Tract. Currently, these areas remain in an active hostilities zone.
Historically, the Velykyi Luh natural complex was nearly destroyed in 1956 during the creation of the Kakhovka Reservoir. Remnants of the ecosystem survived on the islands and in ravines along the shoreline. Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in 2023 and the draining of the reservoir, a rapid restoration of natural ecosystems began. Ukrainian scientists also proposed creating a nature reserve here, but assumed it would be established only after the region’s de-occupation.
According to UWEC Work Group experts, Russia’s initiative may be linked to an attempt to legitimize control over the occupied territories through the creation of protected natural areas and their potential international recognition.
At the same time, pressure on the environmental scientific community continues in Russia. In January 2026, scientist Aleksei Dudarev, a researcher of Arctic pollution, was arrested. He has been charged with treason in connection with his scientific collaboration in the international Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. As a result of this political persecution, the next report on Arctic pollution may be published without the participation of Russian scientists.
This is not the only case of repression against scientists working on topics related to Russia’s geopolitical interests. UWEC previously reported on the arrest of Leonid Pshenichnov, a Ukrainian Antarctic researcher with Russian citizenship.