New environmental monitoring mode: Initial results of the work of EMSs in six regions

Environmental monitoring stations (EMS) are now operational in six regions of Ukraine—a new format of preventive environmental monitoring that combines patrols, rapid response, and digital tools for documenting violations. The pilot project is being implemented as part of the Strategy for Reforming the State Environmental Control System.

“Environmental monitoring points are already proving their effectiveness. This is truly a new form of environmental control—modern, digital, and preventive. Our task is to scale this model across the entire territory of Ukraine to ensure systematic and timely protection of the environment,” noted Ihor Zubovych, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

Currently, the EMSs are operating in three districts:

• Central Region (Cherkasy and Poltava regions) — 7 inspectors work on the EMSs,  accounting for 15.2% of the total number of inspectors;

• Polissya (Zhytomyr and Rivne regions) — 14 inspectors work on the EMSs, accounting for 27.4% of the total number of inspectors;

• Southwestern (Odesa and Mykolaiv regions) — 12 inspectors work on the EMSs, accounting for 13.6% of the total number of inspectors.

From October 2025 to February 2026, environmental inspectors conducted: 873 patrols; 224 raids; 45 emergency responses to calls from the National Police and citizens. During these operations, 1,648 educational discussions were held with citizens.

Inspectors recorded 973 violations of environmental protection laws and issued 611 reports of administrative offenses. The most common violations were unauthorized landfills within populated areas, land littering, illegal tree cutting, and violations of rules governing the use of aquatic biological resources.

Additionally, 31 cases with indications of criminal offenses were directed to law enforcement agencies, and 15 criminal proceedings were initiated.

Another area of the work of the is documenting environmental damage caused by russia’s armed aggression. Between October 2025 and January 2026, inspectors calculated UAH 187.221 million in damages, of which:

• UAH 184.231 million — for soil contamination and land littering resulting from missile and bomb attacks;

• UAH 2.990 million — for air pollution caused by combustion products.

As a reminder, the Environmental Monitoring System (EMS) is a model for transitioning from an outdated “punitive” system to modern preventive control, which involves:

• recording violations and environmental damage using state-of-the-art equipment;

• rapid response to calls 24/7;

• conducting patrols and raids;

• digitization of control processes and information processing.

Background information

The project is being implemented by the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine as part of the Strategy for Reforming State Environmental Control through 2029. Coordination is carried out by the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The State Environmental Inspection units are equipped with mobile laboratories, quadcopters, and modern computer technology. The equipment was procured as part of the UN Development Programme in Ukraine’s project on environmental damage assessment, funded by the Government of Sweden.