Kyiv's Kyrylivske Lake sees renewed oil pollution after Russian strike
A new minor oil contamination has been detected in Kyiv's Kyrylivske Lake and the Syrets stream following Russia's overnight attack on 7-8 August, worsened by heavy rain that tore away containment booms.
Following Russia's overnight attack on Kyiv on 7-8 August, authorities detected a renewed minor oil contamination in Kyrylivske Lake and the nearby Syrets stream, based on organoleptic indicators. The Kyiv City State Administration reported the finding, citing its Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation.
The situation was made worse by heavy rainfall, which caused a rapid rise in water levels in both the stream and the lake. As a result, all containment booms that had been placed to localise the pollution were torn away.
Response
Municipal company Pleso responded quickly, taking measures to restore the containment system and prevent the pollution from spreading further. Pleso specialists also collected water samples for laboratory testing, with results to be used for ongoing monitoring of the environmental condition of the lake and stream.
Background
The area has faced contamination before: after a Russian strike hit a petrol station in Kyiv's Obolon district on the night of 1-2 July, more than 350 tonnes of oil products and emulsions spilled into Kyrylivske Lake. Emergency crews finished clearing oil products from the lake's surface on 17 July.
