Siberia is burning: forest fires, smoke reaching Moscow and an environmental crisis
In the summer of 2023, a series of powerful forest fires began in the Far East and Siberia. Tens of thousands of hectares burned, smoke reached large cities, including metropolitan areas. In a number of regions, a state of emergency was introduced, forested areas were closed, and trips to nature were prohibited.
For many Russians, smoke is more than just an unpleasant smell. This is smoke over the house, smoke over the landscape, anxiety for health. In Moscow and the Moscow region, breathing problems suddenly began to be felt, especially among the elderly and children. Masks have become a common accessory not because of the pandemic, but because of the smoke.
Environmentalists warned - carbon dioxide emissions, forest destruction, threat to biodiversity. Animals fled, died, the forest collapsed the ecosystem. For many regions, the forest fire season has become a tragedy - not just natural, but systemic.
June 2023 showed: even in the absence of active military operations within the country, there are internal crises that can hit people. Ecology, climate, natural resources become something that is not always visible, but always felt.
05.07.2023
