To effectively address these issues, a coordination meeting was held with the chairman of the Zaporizhia Regional State Administration, Ivan Fedorov, representatives from the State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine, the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine, the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, directors of the National Parks "Velykyi Luh" and "Priazovskyi," as well as urban and regional specialized departments and municipal institutions. They "synchronized their watches" and outlined the next steps.
Zaporizhia region is one of the areas that acutely feel the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam by Russian forces. Water supply has become one of the key issues. Seventy percent of the occupied territories in the region relied on water from the Kakhovka Reservoir. In cities such as Berdyansk, Prymorsk, Pryazovske, and other populated areas, water supply is sourced from wells and rivers, which cannot fully rectify the situation. There is a clear plan for restoring water supply in the controlled settlements and throughout the territory after its de-occupation. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a State Target Program for Comprehensive Water Supply in areas affected by military actions, which will last until 2030. The plan for Zaporizhia region includes the construction of over 1,300 km of new water pipelines, the establishment of treatment facilities, and the reconstruction of wells.
Since the onset of the Russian invasion, over 14,500 civilian objects have been damaged or destroyed in the region. Orikhiv, Huliaipole, and many other cities have turned into ruins. According to preliminary estimates, around 1 million tons of debris are located in the temporarily occupied territory of the region. In the controlled areas, there are over 33,800 tons. A pilot project for managing debris resulting from Russian aggression may be implemented in Zaporizhia. We will negotiate this matter with our Japanese colleagues.
Among the important projects that will also involve Zaporizhia is the enhancement of air quality monitoring with the support of Finnish colleagues. There is an opportunity to connect the city to a project being implemented through the cooperation between the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The highest number of complaints from residents of the industrial city of Zaporizhia has been directed to the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine regarding air pollution. The situation is further exacerbated by constant shelling, leading to significant additional emissions into the atmosphere. In wartime conditions and within 30 km of the front line, enterprises find it challenging to modernize; however, they must enhance monitoring, collect and analyze data to prevent negative consequences, and respond promptly to situations. After the war, decisions will need to be made regarding what and how to modernize. Next year, Zaporizhia is expected to receive a new automated air quality monitoring station.
We also discussed the possibility of supporting the operation of a mobile air monitoring station in Zaporizhia.
We agreed to expedite the adoption of a regional environmental monitoring program that includes a clear step-by-step plan for reducing emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere.
During the meeting, we also addressed issues related to providing the population with firewood, forest restoration, and resolving problems in protected natural areas, while updating data on the environmental damage caused by the war in the region. We synchronized our efforts and next steps on the challenging path of preserving the environment, which in turn improves the quality of life for people during and after the war.