Government launches experimental project to implement preventive measures for public environmental control

As part of the Strategy for State Environmental Control System Reform, on September 25, 2025, the Government, during a meeting dedicated to environmental protection issues, adopted a resolution to initiate an experimental project aimed at implementing state control measures in the field of environmental protection.

The project will be carried out under the State Environmental Inspectorate, with the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine as the coordinator.

The new approach involves transitioning from an outdated system of public environmental control to a preventive one through:

- Introducing modern forms of control, such as patrolling, raids, and round-the-clock response to incidents;

- Using advanced equipment and technology to document environmental damage, as well as digitizing the processes for collecting this information.

Importantly, patrolling, raids, and rapid response to incidents will enable the detection and documentation of violations in the shortest possible time, allowing for swift action to hold violators accountable in accordance with the law.

It is expected that pilot projects for establishing Environmental Control Points (ECPs) will be implemented in three districts (covering six regions):

- Central (Cherkasy and Poltava regions),

- Polissia (Zhytomyr and Rivne regions),

- Southwestern (Odesa and Mykolaiv regions).

Among the main objectives of the ECPs are as follows:

- Identifying instances of poaching, illegal logging, arson of dry vegetation, etc.;

- Prompt response to incidents through the EcoZagroza (EcoThreat) app and other telecommunication means.

“We are moving from an outdated model to a modern system of preventive environmental control. The goal of this project is not only to quickly detect and document violations but also to prevent them. This brings us closer to European standards while creating an effective tool for protecting the environment and natural resources in real time,” said Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The Ministry is simultaneously working on preparing regulatory acts outlined in the Strategy for the State Environmental Control System Reform by 2029. After the completion of the experimental project, which will last for six months from the date the resolution takes effect, plans are in place to develop a new law on state environmental control.