Serebriansky forest
| Serebryansky Reserve Ukrainian: Серебрянський заказник | |
|---|---|
 A photo of the Serebryansky Forest | |
| Map | |
   | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Kreminna Raion, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine |
| Coordinates | 48°57′18″N 38°08′09″E / 48.95500°N 38.13583°E |
| Area | 107.1 hectares (265 acres) |
| Administration | |
| Established | 25 December 2001 |
| Ecology | |
| Ecosystem(s) | Kobilka River, Krasna River |
The Serebryansky Forest, officially designated as the Serebryansky Reserve, is a natural reserve in Eastern Ukraine, along the Siverskyi Donets river.
Location
The forest is located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southwest of Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast. It is on the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets river.[1]
History
On 25 December 2001, the Luhansk Oblast Council declared the forest to become a natural reserve.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the forest has been situated on the front line for a long time.[2] Therefore, the natural ecosystems have been severely damaged as a result of heavy fighting in the area.[3] On june 22 2025, 2025, Russian troops, taking advantage of the occupation of the first houses in Serebryanka, crossed the Donets River and captured parts downstream from the Donets' river bifurcation, capturing an area up to Mertvyi Donets' Lake. On July 24th, Ukrainians reported that the Russians had secured control over an old pioneer camp in the Kremensky forest. The following day, July 25th, the Ukrainians were caught by surprise by the Russians, who had launched a surprise attack. The Russians completely captured Popove Lake and also captured parts of Zymovne Lake. On August 8th, the Russians launched an offensive in which they captured a portion of the northern part of the Serebriansky Forest, putting Ukrainian forces, who were 1.3 kilometers (808 miles) away, at risk of being encircled in a costly manner. As a result, the Ukrainians began a large withdrawal from that part of the forest. On August 23rd, the Russians launched an offensive in the forest within territories from which the Ukrainians had retreated, gaining control of a large part of the forest. On September 1st, the Russians launched an offensive and captured several parts of the forest, and on the same day the Ukrainian command admitted that the Russians had secured control of the northern part of Hryhorivka and had captured positions on the Donets River. On September 6th, the Russians captured the section of the Donets River north of Serebrianka, thus capturing parts of the southern forest. On September 12th, the Russian Armed Forces advanced towards Yampol and captured parts of the forest. According to pro-Russian sources, it was on this day that the forest fell under their complete control. On September 15th, the advance of the Russian 25th Army into the swampy area of the Serebryansky Forest. September 17th, as a consequence of the Russian advance in Yampil, ended up capturing parts west of the forest. September 18th: Russian attack aircraft assumed new positions along the northern bank of the Seversky Donets River in the western part of the southern forest. It then happened that the Russians advanced more slowly into the forest until, on October 12, 2025, it was confirmed that the Russians had complete control of the forest.
Characteristics
The Serebryansky Reserve covers a total area of 107.1 hectares (265 acres). Though it mainly consists of forestry, it also has other terrains such as swamps and meadows.
Flora and Fauna
The reserve is a center of boreal ecosystems in the area, which includes many plants that are rare in Luhansk Oblast.
For fauna, the natural reserve has many species, including the European tree frog and the Common slow worm.
References
- ^ "Портал «Природа України»". Luhansk Oblast administration. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013.
- ^ "Останній форпост: чому Росія штурмує Серебрянське лісництво?". Radio Svoboda. June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Нацгвардія показала знищений ботанічний заказник Серебрянський на Луганщині". The New Voice of Ukraine. April 20, 2024.