On the morning of May 3, Russian forces launched rocket artillery strikes on forested areas in the Boryva community of the Izium district, Kharkiv region. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) reported the incident.
The shelling triggered massive wildfires, engulfing over 2 hectares of the Boryva Forestry area and more than 5 hectares of protected land within the Chervonoosk Regional Landscape Park.
According to the SES, firefighters are currently working to extinguish 11 wildfires across forestry lands in the Kharkiv region, five of which were directly caused by enemy shelling. Emergency crews, demining units, and forestry workers with heavy equipment have been deployed to the scene.
Due to the spreading fires, local authorities have begun evacuating residents from affected areas in the Izium district. Valerii Marchenko, head of the local military administration, confirmed the evacuation in a comment to Suspilne.
“Utility workers are assisting the emergency crews, and water trucks have been brought in. Civilians with shovels are helping too. Additional support has arrived from Barvinkove, Balakliia, and Kharkiv. The situation is serious. We are evacuating residents as the fire reaches their homes. A kindergarten has been prepared for temporary shelter,” said Marchenko.
The situation in the region remains tense.