Next week, weather permitting, a chemical treatment will be carried out in the Cherkasy Forestry to exterminate forest pests by ground spraying. Last autumn, specialists from the forestry, together with experts from the Kyiv Forest Protection Enterprise, identified an increased concentration of gypsy moth outbreaks in common oak stands of the Ruskopolianske and Dubiivske forest districts. This year, the total area requiring treatment was determined to be 1,734 hectares. However, due to sanitary protection zones around settlements and water sources, only 1,565 hectares have been approved for treatment.

The gypsy moth caterpillar damages over 200 plant species, with a particular preference for common oak. The pest spreads easily over large distances via wind and silk threads, allowing it to infest vast forest areas. If not controlled, these pests can cause significant damage, hindering tree growth and forest development. Therefore, timely identification and extermination measures are crucial.

The treatment will be carried out using the "GARD" aerosol generator, applying the insecticide "Fastac," of which 143 liters have been purchased for a total cost of 81,000 UAH. The application rate is 100 mg per hectare. Citizens are urged to understand the necessity of these measures. For four days after treatment, activities such as haymaking, forest visits, and gathering wild plants, berries, and mushrooms will be prohibited. Livestock grazing near treated areas will be restricted for five days, and beekeepers are advised not to release bees during this period.