Russia reports land hit by wildfires is 2.5 times larger than last year

The Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Alexander Kurenkov told that wildfires in the country have hit an area 2.5 times larger area since the start of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The Minister made the report during a meeting, chaired by President Vladimir Putin. He added that despite the larger area covered, the number of forest fires is "comparable to last year's figures".