Nature has always been a source of pride for the inhabitants of Crimea and a powerful attraction for guests of the peninsula. Out of the 21 natural reserves created in Ukraine, 6 are located within the peninsula. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol are home to a total of 209 sites and territories of the nature reserve infrastructure (NRI) [1]. However, the Crimean Natural Reserve is the most important one in terms of preserving the natural landscapes and the quality of life of the Crimeans.

Shortly after the invasion and annexation, on 06/04/2014, the so-called Council of Ministers of Crimea unlawfully handed over the Crimean nature reserve for free use to the Administrative Directorate of the President of the Russian Federation [4]. Later, on 09/13/2018, the government of the Russian Federation unlawfully established the Crimean National Park on the grounds of the Crimean Nature Reserve, separating the Swan Islands ornithological branch from the Crimean Reserve [5].

Незаконное понижение статуса Крымского природного заповедника до национального парка будет иметь разрушительные последствия. Согласно российскому законодательству, которое де-факто действует на временно оккупированной полуострове, на территории национального парка, в отличие от заповедной территории, разрешается организация хозяйственной и рекреационной деятельности, что значительно препятствует, а иногда делает невозможным сохранение горных заповедных лесов, животного и растительного разнообразия.

В 2019 российской оккупационной администрацией опубликован проект использования около 40% территории заповедника для хозяйственной и рекреационной деятельности [6].

The Crimean Nature Reserve is not the only natural area that suffered from the occupation. For example, the Russian troops are using the Opuksky Natural Reserve for military exercises. In 2014-2019 alone, at least 89 such cases were recorded. [9]

Reserves on the southern coast of Crimea did not escape similar attention either. The area of the Yalta Mountain Forest Natural Reserve has been reduced from 14,523 to 14,459.58 hectares, that is, by 63.5 hectares [10].

On 08.04.2015, the so-called Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea issued an illegitimate order downgrading the national Nature Reserve Cape Martyan to a natural park of regional significance [11]. This reserve is the smallest (total area - 240 ha) among all on the territory of Crimea, it is also completely surrounded by local communities. Illegitimate downgrading of its status will inevitably lead to its destruction.

Another striking example of the barbaric attitude of the aggressor state to the natural heritage of the peninsula is the real estate development on the Cape Meganom natural monument. In 2020, the occupants adopted an unlawful decision on the gratuitous transfer of several land plots for the organization and hosting of the Tavrida ArtRussia festival and the construction of the Tavrida Art Residence educational center [12]. The unlawful project is being implemented within protected zone of Cape Meganom, which protects the natural monument from the influence of human activity.