Government proposes to toughen administrative penalties for violations in the field of water resources protection

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a draft law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses with the Aim of Strengthening Liability in the Field of Water Protection, Rational Use, and Restoration of Water Resources.”

The document provides for a review and increase in the amounts of administrative fines for violations of water legislation, in particular for unauthorized water use, water pollution and contamination, violations of water protection regulations, wasteful use of water, and failure to comply with water accounting rules.

Current fine amounts do not correspond to modern economic conditions and do not serve a preventive function. Currently, the fine for violating state ownership rights over water is only UAH 85–136, while the draft law proposes increasing it to UAH 3,400–5,100.

For comparison, the fine for similar offenses in Croatia is EUR 1,320 – 2,000 (UAH 44,193–66,800), and in the Republic of Slovenia – from EUR 10,000 to 20,000. This difference highlights the need to bring Ukrainian penalties to a level that will effectively deter violations and align with European practice.

The bill also expands the list of violations, including:

• failure to comply with the terms of a special water use permit,
• destruction of riverbeds and watercourses during the construction of engineering structures,
• violations of economic activity regulations in water protection zones,
• submission of inaccurate information regarding state water accounting.

“Today, the amount of fines in the field of water use is not a deterrent and does not correspond to the actual environmental risks. Strengthening accountability is a step toward fostering a culture of responsible management of water resources and bringing our legislation in line with European standards,” noted Ihor Zubovych, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The implementation of the bill shall contribute to increasing the accountability of economic entities, restoring the ecological balance of water bodies, and strengthening the state’s capacity to effectively protect water resources and citizens’ rights to a safe environment.

The document was developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management and the Action Plan for the Comprehensive Resolution of Problems in the Ros River Basin for 2024–2030.

The decision will take effect after the bill is adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, signed by the President of Ukraine, and published.