A foul odor and dead fish have been reported in the left tributary of the Mga River in the Kirovsky district of the Leningrad region, prompting concern from local residents. The incident was first brought to public attention on June 7th by a Fontanka reader who described the unbearable stench while walking along the bank of the Voytolovka River, near the “Lokomotivnoye Depo TCh-8” gardening association.

Residents of the “Lokomotivnoye Depo TCh-8” gardening association have also reported the fish deaths and suspiciously foamy water in the river. They suspect that chemicals may have been dumped into the water and have taken the precaution of turning off the water supply.

This is not the first time that unusual smells and fish deaths have been observed in the area. Similar incidents were reported in June of the previous year, with residents suggesting that the source of the pollution was a pig farm located along the Voytolovka River. In early summer 2022, environmental police specialists inspected the water area but found no evidence of pollution. At that time, complaints were also made about waste discharge from a pig farm into the Voytolovka. Previously, a pig farm belonging to a Danish holding company and a local state farm were suspected of being responsible for the discharges.