Wildlife deserts nature reserve known as Europe's Amazon

Image source, BBC/Frank Gardner

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has been documented. There are rare species of animals and flowers that flourished in the country's north that have been badly hit by the invaders' destructive use of weaponry and land mines.

Valery Alexandrovitch is surrounded by men armed with Kalashnikovs while keeping an eye on the news.

He is a forest Ranger in the Drevlyansky nature reserve, patrolling a sanctuary that used to be a paradise for wildlife. It is so rich in wildlife that it has been called Europe's Amazon.

It is in a dangerous part of the world and Mr. Alexandrovitch has reason to be cautious.

In February, after crossing this border, Russia sent rockets, missiles and artillery shells, followed by an invading armored column that was driven back by Ukrainian defenders armed with the latest Western weapons.

A man is perched on a fallen log next to a forest track. The worst legacy of the invasion is that. That and the forest fires they started.

Image source, BBC/Frank Gardner

On February 24th, the Russians invaded Ukraine from three sides - from the north in Belarus, their own territory in the east, and the annexation of the peninsula of Crimea.

When President Putin sent his tanks across the border, he probably didn't want to preserve the rare flora and fauna of Ukraine.

The forest fires that have burned through more than 2,000 hectares of previously-untouched forest were caused by the Russian shelling.

The charred and blackened trunks of the trees suggest that wildlife in this part of Ukraine won't be returning soon. They don't have anything to eat or to hide.

According to the Ukrainians, locals in Narodychi aided the Russians by guiding their fire towards troops.

Mr Alexandrovitch says that they still have to watch out for illegal immigrants. The heavily-armed Ukrainian patrols we witnessed here near the border were small groups of fit-looking men carrying rifles and walkie talkies.

Image source, BBC/Frank Gardner

Polesia is a large area on the map that spans into Russia, Poland and Belarus. It is home to a number of animals that were once common in Europe.

Polesia has suffered many disasters, including the Russian invasion. On April 26, 1986, reactor number four in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, releasing a large amount of highly radioactive particles across Europe and into northernUkraine.

Most of the remote villages and cottages in the area were abandoned when the human population was hastily evacuated to safety.

The wildlife was largely unaffected by that disaster.

Image source, BBC/Frank Gardner

The Polesian wolf is one of the largest wolves in the world. If it suits them, they would come straight through the villages at night.

Ukraine's part of Polesia has a different problem than the one caused by the Russian mines. Russia is not a party to the treaty. Russian forces have planted at least seven different types of anti-personnel mines in the country.

The unpaved tracks the rangers used to patrol are too dangerous to use in the north. One person was killed and another was badly injured when a vehicle drove over a landmine.

The remains of a deer that was killed by a mine are sometimes found. The animals are not able to see them. It's heartbreaking.

It will take a while to make the area safe again.

He takes a long drag of his cigarette before looking at the pine branches. He said it would take years. He turned and said, "Decades, in fact."

Image source, BBC/Frank Gardner

Image source, BBC/Frank Gardner