Wildfires approach Chita as Russia’s Zabaykalsky region faces ongoing fire emergency
Iain Hoey
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Wildfires move closer to Chita in Zabaykalsky region
NASA Earth Observatory has reported that wildfires in Russia’s Zabaykalsky region are nearing Chita, with satellite images confirming widespread fires around the city.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured smoke from fires near Chita on 19 May 2025.
Local reports said that, by 20 May, fires had reached the city’s outskirts.
Chita, a city of around 350,000 people on the Trans-Siberian Railway, is at the centre of an escalating emergency.
Thick smoke was reported in multiple locations near the city, with firefighting crews working against dry conditions and high winds.
State of emergency declared as fires spread across multiple regions
The Russian government has declared a federal-level state of emergency in Zabaykalsky, as well as in Buryatia and the Dzerzhinsky Municipal District in Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Russia’s Aerial Forest Protection Service reported 49 wildfires across six regions on 20 May 2025, with Zabaykalsky accounting for 672,261 hectares of the total 696,718 hectares affected.
Crews have been deployed nationwide, including 2,726 personnel and 13 aircraft.
Zabaykalsky alone received more than 1,000 paratroopers and airborne troops.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said firefighting teams were operating in Peschanka and Atamanovka, where fires had affected at least 150 hectares.
Human activity and weather conditions identified as contributing factors
Dry weather, limited snow cover, and the early arrival of spring have worsened the wildfire situation.
Officials and experts have attributed many of the fires to human causes, particularly the burning of dry grass near populated areas.
Regional firefighting authorities in Russia said 30 forest fires were extinguished on 19 May across nine regions, covering a combined area of 14,063 hectares.
These included fires in the Republics of Tyva, Buryatia, and Altai, as well as Arkhangelsk, Leningrad, Irkutsk and Tomsk Oblasts.
A fire safety regime has now been introduced in 46 of Russia’s constituent entities.
Ongoing firefighting efforts and challenges
State Duma lawmaker Andrei Gurulyov told Chita.ru that extinguishing operations would remain restricted due to weather conditions.
Gurulyov said: “As long as there’s no precipitation, we won’t put out the fires.”
He added: “It will still smoulder from a month and a half to three months until it’s flooded with rain.”
More than 670,000 hectares were burning in Zabaykalsky as of 21 May, according to Russia’s Aerial Forest Protection Service.
Support has been mobilised from multiple federal and regional agencies.
Russia’s Avialesookhrana and affiliated regional bodies deployed more than 1,000 personnel, including forest protection teams from Yakutia, Komi, Khanty-Mansiysk, Irkutsk, Bashkortostan, Karelia, and Sverdlovsk.
Aviation monitoring has also increased, with 49 aircraft involved in surveillance activities.
Wildfires approach Chita as Russia’s Zabaykalsky region faces ongoing fire emergency: Summary
NASA Earth Observatory has confirmed wildfires are advancing toward Chita in Russia’s Zabaykalsky region.
MODIS satellite imagery from 19 May 2025 showed smoke over the area.
Russian authorities reported 49 active wildfires on 20 May.
Zabaykalsky accounts for the majority of the affected land, with 672,261 hectares burning.
The Emergency Situations Ministry stated crews are operating around Peschanka and Atamanovka.
Smoke and flames have reached the city’s outskirts, with residents reporting thick black smoke.
More than 2,700 personnel and 13 aircraft are involved in suppression efforts.
Zabaykalsky, Buryatia, and the Dzerzhinsky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai are under a federal state of emergency.
Dry weather and human activity, including grass burning, are primary causes.
Russia’s Aerial Forest Protection Service said 30 fires were extinguished in nine regions on 19 May.
A special fire safety regime is in effect across 46 constituent entities of Russia.
Nearly 700,000 hectares remain affected by wildfires as of 20 May.