Two Russian tankers spill 4,000 tons of fuel oil causing $14 billion environmental damage in Black Sea, with contamination spreading to Ukrainian waters.
The BBC has named two Ukrainians—farmer Olha Olefirenko and Olha Rudnieva, founder of the Superhumans trauma center—among its list of the most influential and inspiring women of the year.
Kherson oblast chief reports Russian occupiers destroyed the Askania-Nova biosphere reserve, with animals relocated to Crimea and Russia. The reserve director disputes total destruction, but confirms significant damage to protected steppe areas and animal relocations.
Ukrainian researchers are conducting a nationwide soil sampling project to study fungal diversity. The study contributes to a global database, fills knowledge gaps about Ukraine's fungi, and may help assess the war's environmental impact. 34 contributors collected 225 samples from 21 regions.
The long-awaited delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine marks a pivotal moment in the country's air defense strategy, with the aircraft featuring advanced Danish-manufactured early warning systems. However, The Economist reports that limited numbers and complex maintenance requirements may delay the jets' full impact on the battlefield.
The Russian invasion caused around $388 million in damage to the “Holy Mountains” National Park in Donetsk Oblast, with lots of its territory burned or mined.