The fertile steppes of southern Ukraine are increasingly threatened by desertification, driven by climate change, human activity, and the ongoing effects of war. The South-Western Environmental Inspectorate (DEI) has reported worrying trends in Odessa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions, where once-lush grasslands are losing moisture, vegetation, and resilience to climate fluctuations.
Experts point to several causes, including rising temperatures, over-farming, deforestation of shelterbelts, and soil depletion. These processes have intensified since the full-scale invasion began. The destruction of the Kakhovka Reservoir in 2023 dealt another severe blow, cutting off long-standing irrigation systems and leaving soils dry, vegetation scarce, and biological productivity declining.
Satellite images from the Oleshky Sands area reveal alarming changes, with shifting sands expanding and soil quality deteriorating. In southern Odesa Oblast, particularly in Bessarabia’s Izmail and Bolhrad districts, dust storms have become increasingly frequent due to land drying and the loss of shelterbelts.
Experts say halting desertification will require coordinated efforts: restoring shelterbelts, implementing ecological irrigation, conserving soil, and promoting sustainable water use.
Protecting these lands is not just an environmental concern but a matter of national food security, as the region has historically been a key agricultural hub for Ukraine
