This year, the wildfire season in Russia has been less severe, with fires burning considerably less land than in 2024. However, experts caution that this apparent improvement could lead to a false sense of security regarding the nation’s long-term readiness.

Between January and August, officials noted over 6,500 wildfires, affecting around 4.5 million hectares (11.3 million acres)—nearly a third less than the same timeframe last year.

This number falls within the Russian government’s target of 4.68 million hectares of forest burned for the entire year of 2025, as reported by the environmental news site Kedr.

Experts cited a mix of factors for this decrease in wildfire damage, including increased rainfall, an unusually cool summer in Siberia, and a reduction in the traditional spring burning of dry grass.

An anonymous forestry expert mentioned to Kedr, “The authorities may incorrectly view this relatively uneventful wildfire season as a success, interpreting it as proof that the wildfire management system is functioning effectively.”

“However, the reality is that the situation is deteriorating: climate change is progressing, and chaos in forestry is escalating. Skilled professionals are departing, equipment is aging, and people are increasingly bogged down in bureaucratic issues,” the expert added.

Grigory Kuksin, a veteran forestry specialist at the Landscape Fire Prevention Center, informed Kedr that in recent years, the wildfire season in Russia has expanded further into the fall due to prolonged periods of heat and dryness.

“The outlook for the season’s conclusion remains concerning. We are still far from the end,” Kuksin stated. “Additionally, in winter, we will have to contend with ‘zombie fires,’ which are smoldering peat fires that can persist underground throughout the cold months, even in northern areas.”

In 2021, Russia experienced its most devastating wildfire season, with almost 19 million hectares destroyed.