Raging wildfires have engulfed large swathes of Siberia’s forests making it difficult to breath in many Russian towns and cities. Today, 31 July, the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar has been covered by a pall of grey smoke from the Russian fires. According to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), there have been no wildfires in Mongolia since 19 July. NEMA has extinguished a total of 88 wildfires since January. The most recent two Mongolian forest fires were in the Mandal and Eruu Soum of Selenge Province, which is located in the north of the country.

The wildfires raging in Siberia are 700 km distant from Mongolia, but the wind, which is no respecter of frontiers, has brought the smoke to Ulaanbaatar and the provinces of Khuvsgul, Bulgan and Tuv.

A total of five forest fires have entered Mongolia from Russia since January, 2019.