Kyiv Ranks First Globally for Worst Air Quality on September 20th

On the morning of September 20, Kyiv topped the global ranking for cities with the worst air quality, according to data from IQAir.

At 9:00 a.m., Kyiv’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 173 US AQI, indicating unhealthy pollution levels.

The Kyiv City State Administration reported that the deteriorating air quality is due to weakened wind conditions, exacerbated by environmental fires in the Kyiv region, particularly near Vyshhorod area.

Residents of Kyiv are advised to keep windows closed, minimize outdoor activities, stay hydrated, and use masks when necessary to protect themselves from the pollution.

Oleksandr Voznyy, the Director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation, addressed the situation in a briefing, noting that pollution levels had surged by 20% in some outer districts of the city. “In some areas, concentrations of fine particulate matter exceed safe levels by five times,” Vozny explained.

The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center clarified that the smoke affecting the region is not a meteorological event but is primarily due to prolonged dry conditions. The fires responsible for the smog include peat field blazes and other burning areas in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions.

While wind intensity in Kyiv is gradually decreasing, air pollution levels still remain above permissible limits, as reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.