Occupiers cut down valuable tree species in Crimea under pretext of planting vineyards – CNR

According to Ukrinform, the Center of National Resistance reported this on Telegram.

"In the village of Verkhnosadove, near Sevastopol, hundreds of oak and hornbeam trees over 50 years old are being destroyed en masse. Officially  'for vineyard planting,' but in fact for timber sales and construction. The occupation administration transferred more than 100 hectares of forest to an investor from Yekaterinburg, after first changing the land status from 'forest' to 'agricultural,'" the report says.

It is noted that the logging is supervised by a structure affiliated with the so-called Ministry of Natural Resources of Crimea. Part of the timber is removed under the guise of 'sanitary clearing,' but later ends up at sawmills linked to local collaborators.

According to local residents, the land is not being prepared for vineyards. Instead, heavy machinery is clearing the area for cottages "for officials from mainland Russia."

"Under the guise of investment, the occupiers are legalizing the destruction of Crimea's nature," the statement emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, water reservoirs in Crimea have accumulated the lowest amount of water in recent years.