Ecologist Blames Ukrainian PM for Smoke From Regional Wildfires in Kiev

Vladimir Boreyko, head of the Kiev Ecological and Cultural Center, believes that the ongoing wildfires outside Kiev and the strong smell of smoke in the Ukrainian capital can be attributed to what he described as "two pathological phenomena," the Ukrainian news website kiyany.obozrevatel.com reported.

He made the remarks amid reports about the Ukrainian capital being wrapped in smoke due to a number of wildfires in the region, including a forest fire that broke out in the village of Zazimye, located about ten kilometers from Kiev, earlier this week.

"The fires are explained by at least two pathological phenomena: a persistent heatwave that has not been in place in Ukraine since 1909, and the pathological stupidity of the government of Yatsenyuk", Boreyko said.

He explained that Yatsenyuk had banned the inspection of any economic entities in Ukraine under the guise of fighting corruption.

By doing so, he added significantly to destroying civil society and eliminating public control, according to Boreyko.

"With the state and public control already destroyed, it is no surprise that the country has been affected by the wildfires," he said.

According to Boreyko, the cause of the latest wildfire could be the careless handling of fire, that he said can again be explained by a lack of public control.

Meanwhile, Kiev emergency officials have warned that the persistent smell of smoke, which impregnated many districts of the city, including the center, will show no sign of abating in the coming hours.