New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos will be taking personal leave to assist the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, he announced on Twitter Monday.

"We all must do our part to keep Ukrainians safe during this brutal war, and support democracy wherever it is imperiled," the commissioner wrote on the platform.

Executive Deputy Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald will run the department in Seggos' absence.

He did not say how long the leave period would last.

"As security conditions permit I’ll post updates," he said.

Seggos has been DEC commissioner since 2015 and is currently the department's longest serving leader.

The war in Ukraine is nearing its seven month.

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