“There is no danger”, “everything is under control,” “atmospheric pollution is at permissible levels”, “there are no health hazards” –  Crimean occupation authorities are going out of their way to reassure the public that there is no environmental danger from the unexpected and unexplained  chemical emissions at the Crimean Titan factory in Armyansk, northern Crimea. On August 23-24 an unknown substance spewed into the atmosphere, filling the countryside with smog and a pungent odor. Social media buzzed with reports of houses and cars being covered with plaque and rust and an unknown haze hanging over the area.

Some days later Crimeans began noticing that birds had disappeared from Armyansk. Some people found dead birds in their gardens. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees began wilting and people began experiencing eye and throat irritations.

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