Wildfires expanding in Ukraine’ Zakarpattia at unseen pace - rescuers

This was reported by the spokesperson for the State Emergency Service Department in Zakarpattia region, Natalia Batyr, who spoke with an Ukrinform correspondent.

"This year, fires in Zakarpattia ecosystems are massive and large-scale – it’s the first time we’re facing such a scale. The number of fires has increased fivefold on year: on March 11, 2024, a total of 126 fires have been recorded, and today it’s 633," she said.

Massive wildfires raging in Zakarpattia ecosystems / Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Zakarpattia  regional department

According to the State Emergency Service, 103 fire hotbeds have been recorded in Zakarpattia ecosystems over the past 24 hours on an area of ​​174 hectares.

"And this is a single day. This is like in three months last year so this is a huge figure," said Batyr.

Firefighters are currently increasing the number of reserve teams involved in containing the flames. They are also working to identify arsonists to bring them to account.

According to the State Emergency Service, the largest number of blazes were reported in the Khust and Mukachevo districts (27 and 26 cases, respectively), as well as 21 in the Uzhhorod district, 15 in the Tyachiv district, and nine in the Berehovo district.

As reported, the Rakhiv district yesterday saw the smallest number of wildfire hotbeds (5).