In the first 4 months of 2026, more than 11,000 fires broke out in ecosystems across Ukraine, resulting in 27 deaths and 35 injuries, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
“As a result of these fires, 27 people died and another 32 were injured. At the same time, only about 350 of the total fires were caused by Russia’s aggression—all the rest were caused specifically by human negligence or the deliberate burning of dry vegetation,” the service’s Telegram channel quoted Viktor Vitovetsky, Director of the Department of Civil Protection and Preventive Activities at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, as saying.
According to him, to prevent fires, State Emergency Service specialists carried out more than 8,000 preventive measures, of which more than a thousand involved the use of UAVs. The use of drones is a new practice for the State Emergency Service, which helps not only to identify arson of dry vegetation but also to identify those responsible.
” “The State Emergency Service continues to hold accountable those who burn grass and leaves; however, the fines are not sufficient to compensate for the damage caused. As of today, since the beginning of 2026, fines have been imposed on more than 1,600 people for a total amount of approximately 3.5 million UAH,” Vitovetsky noted.
