First Environmental Control Point (ECP) opened in Zhytomyr region

On October 23, with the participation of Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksii Sobolev, the grand opening of Ukraine's first experimental Environmental Control Point (ECP) took place. It is located in Zhytomyr region. Meanwhile, such points are already operating in five other regions of the country: Cherkasy, Poltava, Rivne, Odesa, and Mykolaiv regions.

The event was attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, members of the Verkhovna Rada, the leadership of the State Environmental Inspection, representatives of the UNDP in Ukraine, the head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, the local village head and community leader, representatives of the public, as well as residents of the settlement where the ECP began operating.

The PEC is a transition from an outdated model of environmental control, which operated following the principle of “punitive” measures, to a preventive one.

The PEC involves:

• recording violations and damage to the environment using the most advanced equipment;
• rapid response through the EcoZagroza app and other means of communication;
• round-the-clock response to calls from citizens;
• round-the-clock patrolling and raids;
• digitization of control and information processing.

"We are creating a new model of environmental control — one that is transparent, digital, and focused on preventing environmental damage rather than merely recording its consequences. We plan to scale the project nationwide and integrate it with the national environmental monitoring system. Over the next six months, the project will operate in six pilot regions. We will evaluate its effectiveness in order to develop an operational law on state environmental control," said Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

From now on, every resident of an area where an Environmental Control Point (ECP) is located can become an active assistant in protecting the environment by reporting deforestation, land and water pollution, poaching, etc. in person at the ECP or through the EcoZagroza app. This will ensure a prompt response to such reports.

"ECP inspectors are the new face of the joint struggle of the state and society for a clean environment, whose main task is not to punish violators, but to prevent violations and protect nature. Our veterans are joining the ECP, and it is former military personnel who are becoming the first inspectors of the new eco-control model. The combination of digital solutions and the use of the latest equipment will enable inspectors in the field to record violations in real time and prevent them," said Ihor Zubovych, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The pilot project will last six months, and based on its results:

• Government shall assess the effectiveness of the new approach;
• a new law on state environmental control shall be drafted;
• changes to the regulatory framework shall be prepared.

The launch of the project is part of the Strategy for Reforming State Environmental Control for the period up to 2029, which is based on EU standards that have proven their effectiveness. The initiative, which has already been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in its decision No. 1212 of September 25, 2025, is coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture on the basis of the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine.

Background information

The PEC is technically equipped with:

– a mobile laboratory;

– a specialized vehicle equipped for sampling and transportation, recording violations, etc.;

– a UAV (DJI Matrice 4T quadcopter) for aerial photography and detection of environmental violations from the air;

– body cameras for objective recording of environmental control measures and damage caused to the environment;

– computer equipment to ensure digitization – accepting applications through the app and processing them in the EcoZagroza system in order to respond promptly to public inquiries.

The equipment was purchased as part of a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project in Ukraine to assess environmental damage, funded by the Swedish government.

The first PEC, opened in the village of Sadky, Berezivska village council, Zhytomyr region, covers an area of approximately 630 km², which includes the rivers Teteriv, Kamianka, Hnylopiat, Kroshenka, Lisna, and Hnyl; the Dubovyi Hai landscape reserve, the Shoduarivskyi Park, and the Radonovi Dzherela hydrological monument.