Ukraine accuses Russia of ecocide: Ukraine is accusing Russian forces of deliberately leaking toxic chemical waste into the Seym River leading to a devastating ecological disaster, the Guardian reports. The pollution caused in the Seym River has now spread into the Desna River killing a mass amount of fish, molluscs, and other wildlife.

The rates are alarming: The river has experienced startling fish die-offs, with volunteers collecting about 44 tons of rotting fish. The incident is an act of "ecocide," Chernihiv’s ecology inspectorate head Serhiy Zhuk said, noting the catastrophic impact on one of Europe's cleanest rivers.

What is ecocide? An expert panel by Stop Ecocide defines it as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.” Ecocide is classified as a crime in 11 countries, with 27 more nations considering taking a similar step, the World Economic Forum said, citing data by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

It will take years for the river's ecosystem to recover: The effects have been exacerbated by ongoing military activity in the region, with debris and fuel from blown up bridges over the Seym, adding to the mix, Zhuk told the Guardian. While Ukraine has taken emergency measures to mitigate the damage, the scope of the pollution remains severe, threatening water supplies for mns of people.

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