Russia forest fire damage worst since records began, says Greenpeace

Analysis shows over 18.16m hectares were destroyed in 2021, an absolute record since satellite monitoring began

Russia has endured its worst forest fire season in the country's modern history, according to recent data from the Russian Forestry Agency analysed by Greenpeace.

Fires have destroyed more than 18.16m hectares of Russian forest in 2021, setting an absolute record since the country began monitoring forest fires using satellites in 2001. The previous record was set in 2012, when fires covered 18.11m hectares of forest.