European regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT)
EU 27 regional assessment: Endangered (EN)

Within the European region, the Pontic Blue occurs in Greece, Ukraine and European Russia. This species is listed as Near Threatened for Europe because it has an area of occupancy of below 2,000 km² and has severely fragmented populations. This species is listed as Endangered for the EU 27 because it has an area of occupancy of 148 km², an extent of occurrence of  1,644 km², and has severely fragmented and declining populations.

Within the European region, this species occurs in extreme eastern Ukraine, southern parts of European Russia, and in the Chelmos Mountains of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. It is found at altitudes between sea level and 1,500 m.

In the EU 27 region, this species' area of occupancy is 148 km² and the extent of occurrence is 1,644 km².

Europe is at the margin of the global distribution area of the species, which extends to the Anatolia region of Türkiye, the Caucuses, Asiatic Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan.

This is a local species, restricted to (semi-) natural habitats. Declines in distribution or population have been reported in several countries. It is classed as Endangered in Ukraine; and Near Threatened in Greece (Maes et al. 2019).

In Greece it is very localised with few remaining subpopulations which are severely fragmented and have undergone a 20% decline (O. Tzortzakaki pers. comm.). This is a mountainous species in Ukraine and Russia recently recorded from only a few scattered locations suggesting it also has a severely fragmented distribution in these two countries.

The Pontic Blue can be found in woodland clearings and sheltered habitats above the tree-line with flower-rich, grassy vegetation. The butterflies have also been seen in dense scrub. The caterpillars feed on Tufted-Vetch (Vicia cracca) and possibly other Vicia species. It has one generation a year and hibernates in the larval stage. Habitats include dry calcareous grasslands and steppes (75%), mesophile grasslands (25%) (van Swaay et al. 2006).

The Pontic Blue is threatened by a lack of suitable grassland habitat management (both agricultural intensification, especially overgrazing and abandonment) in some parts of Europe. Extensive fires can also lead to habitat loss. Habitat loss and changing habitat quality may also lead to increasing habitat fragmentation and isolation of remaining populations and subpopulations. The species is attractive to collectors but there is no evidence to determine whether this is contributing to its decline.

All butterflies are collected to some extent, but only for the extremely rare species can it be a problem and the trade in Europe is generally at a low level compared to other continents. The species is attractive to collectors.

This species occurs in only two Natura 2000 protected areas within its European distribution: Ori Barmpas Kai Klokos, Farangi Selinounta; Ori Barmpas, Klokos, Farangi Selinounta (Greece). In countries where the species is declining, important habitats should be protected and managed. The effects of conservation actions should be monitored by butterfly monitoring schemes.