Struggle to protect Losiny Ostrov Nature Reserve: we stood our ground and went to court to defend a refuge for wildlife.

Nature defenders in Moscow Oblast continue to fight for the protected forest of “Losiny Ostrov” — a local refuge of wildlife where animals and plants can still hide from humans and survive. But the authorities decided to destroy nature, to cut the reserve into pieces for the sake of building a highway! Formally, to relieve transport corridors; in reality, later on residential districts will be built along these roads — huge high-rise buildings with thousands of apartments. Big profit from ads like “buy an apartment in the heart of the reserve.”

I have already written a major overview of the situation around Losiny Ostrov National Park as of 2025. We also launched a public initiative to support the defenders of this protected forest. The struggle continues, and I believe it is very important to help our people defend their right to environmental safety and the right of wildlife to live.

I will start with the fact that several months ago officials submitted draft law No. 157501 for consideration, which would legalize the destruction of “Losiny Ostrov.” As of now, the draft has not been adopted; after a fierce public battle against the lobby pushing to seize the reserve, it simply “stalled.” It has not been withdrawn from consideration, but it has not been adopted either. The last reactions to it were mass public outrage over alleged “vote rigging” on the draft law—supposedly “in favor” of destroying the reserve. At the time, we raised a scandal, documented violations, and filed statements with law-enforcement agencies.

But despite the fact that the draft law has not been adopted and, formally, the national park cannot be destroyed, the authorities are already actively bringing infrastructure there, cutting down trees, and have no intention of backing down. Neither the arguments of scientists and experts nor the position of local residents stops them.

The interests are too big. The money is too enormous!

Last month the authorities opened a new road; it has not yet appeared on maps, but it is already open to traffic. The authorities themselves stated that this is not a new road, but a “reconstruction of an old section.” Regional mass media were sent to celebrate the expansion of anthropogenic pressure on the last refuge of wildlife. They “whitewashed” the highway construction on federal TV and in small regional media alike.

Here is what “Kaliningradskaya Pravda,” which covers news of the city of Korolyov—where this drama is unfolding—writes. On January 15, 2026, it published a short piece titled “An Additional Entrance to Korolyov Has Been Opened.”

I quote:

“A new transport artery that makes it possible to get to Korolyov was opened on the eve of the New Year. The issue of organizing an additional, third entrance to the science city had remained relevant for about 30 years. Today it has been resolved.

A road section more than 7 km long, leading from the federal highway M-8 ‘Kholmogory’ to Kaliningradskaya Street, had existed before, but was unfit for car traffic and had not been used since 2012. In 2025, a major overhaul was carried out here. After reconstruction, the capacity of the upgraded road amounted to 1,800 cars per hour. According to experts’ estimates, it will reduce the load on the main entrance to the science city—Pionerskaya Street—by 35–40%.”

“The route runs along the edge of Losiny Ostrov Park. However, the new transport artery will not affect the status of the specially protected natural area in any way. It is important to note that the reconstruction project for the additional entrance to Korolyov was reviewed jointly with specialists from different fields, including representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, the Government of Moscow Oblast, and Losiny Ostrov National Park. To ensure the safety of animals and motorists, special fences are provided. They prevent elk, wild boar, and other inhabitants of the protected area from entering not only the roadway but also the city limits, which for our city is not uncommon and is deadly dangerous for animals.”

There is nothing to comment on here. And indeed, if the Ministry of Natural Resources itself actively supported the construction, then apparently there is definitely no reason to worry? That is the same Ministry of Natural Resources that is now actively supporting clear-cutting of protective mountain forests across the country? The same one that pushed through clear-cutting of ancient forests around Lake Baikal? The same Ministry that extended bear hunting seasons all the way to December 31 every year (when they are sleeping in dens) and tried to allow killing them while sleeping all winter, until spring, right?

So, that very Ministry of Natural Resources! No questions. I have nothing to comment on.

As for “special fences are provided to ensure the safety of animals and motorists,” local residents are already posting how frightened families of wild boar rush about along the fence, unable to get into their own forest. In some places the animals have simply been “cut off” from their habitat.

Already on January 15, 2026, local residents filed a lawsuit to отменить the cadastral registration of the road. The next hearing was continued on February 6, and on February 20 the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation determined that the cadastral plot does not enter the boundaries of Losiny Ostrov Park. That is, the road was officially recognized, and this was confirmed by the Supreme Court.

I remember the story with bears, which were allowed to be killed up to December 31 each year. Officials were also sued; they, in turn, claimed that everything was fine and that the need to shoot bears in dens (they are woken up, driven outside, and shot) was due to shifts in climate regimes. This despite the fact that the climate in the country differs; we do have a huge state, and besides that, regions already have the right to change the сроки depending on conditions. No federal, uniform expansion was required! But the Supreme Court agreed with the arguments of officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Immediately afterward, officials tried to pass a draft law to allow killing bears all winter long. Apparently also “because of climate change”?

In short, this is what I mean. This is how the system works! That is why it is extremely difficult to achieve any changes.

So, a road has already been laid along the reserve and the traffic flow is moving. The animals rush between the fence and the wild nature. The court case was lost. Interestingly, on February 3, 2026, activists discovered that on Kaliningradskaya Street (Korolyov) a permit had been issued to build a large residential complex. Exactly what needed to be proven! In December 2025, the authorities approved “the residential complex at Kaliningradskaya, 9”—three 24-story buildings with 703 apartments—justifying the project by the road already laid through the park. Local residents are, of course, outraged: in the documentation the “road theme” appears as part of a development plan (a дублёр of Michurina Street and others). They call it “car-based development through the back entrance” and yet another damage to the natural zone that resulted from building the road.

This confirms earlier тезисы about plans to build massive residential кварталы along the planned highways. How much does an apartment cost now in Moscow and the near zone? And if you sell it under the brand “live by the reserve’s heart,” how much higher can you raise the price? Do the math and you will see the real sums behind these interests.

The struggle for Losiny Ostrov National Park continues as much as possible. But, unfortunately, almost no real mechanisms remain! If millions of people unanimously rose to defend the reserve, it would be stopped instantly. But in reality few people care about protecting nature, even when nature is being destroyed in the very heart of our Motherland—right under Moscow.

Read the material with a chronology of the destruction of Losiny Ostrov National Park—there is the entire background of this struggle. And also take part in our public initiative in defense of the reserve.

• Material about the destruction of Losiny Ostrov National Park.
• Public initiative: sign and share.

To the defenders of “Losiny Ostrov” and all local residents—good luck! We understand how hard this struggle is, especially now, in these difficult times. And it truly is not easy work for you, and it is very sad that many people do not understand it. After all, you are fighting not just for a patch of forest, but for the lives of our children, for clean air and water.

For Life!

© PAVEL PASHKOV