Invaders destroying Crimean vineyards

"The results of special processing of data from open sources and satellite imagery showed a decline of viticulture and destruction of vineyards in the territory of the Sudak Valley (near the town of Sudak, the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea)," reads the report. 

The vineyard area in the Sudak Valley was 743.9 hectares in 2012, but after Russia's annexation of Crimea, the area of vineyards sharply shrank by 46%, to 397.8 hectares.

The reasons for this are reforestation of vineyards overgrown with trees and bushes (17.4 ha), abandoned areas that are not cultivated (17.6 ha), uprooted vineyards (59.4 ha), and thinning out that led to a reduction in the number of bushes of grapes (251.7 ha).

According to the ministry, one of the main factors leading to the deterioration of the situation is the illegal actions of the occupation authorities in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in particular, illegal land alienation, construction of infrastructure and roads in vineyards, and low control of the occupation authorities in land management. 

The ministry also noted the dynamics of the reduction of the area under fruit-bearing vineyards in Crimea during Russia's occupation of the peninsula. 

"As of January 1, 2013, their area was 20,500 hectares, and 14,100 hectares in 2017, which is 30% less," reads the report. 

"The actions of the Russian Federation in this context indicate that the aggressor state is not interested in the development of Crimea with its natural potential and such irresponsibility leads to permanent damage to the environment and civilian population living in this territory," the report says.

op