State environmental inspectorates in three oblasts – Zakarpattia, Volyn and Lviv – have been in the process of liquidation since 4 November. As part of the reorganisation, these bodies will be merged into the State Environmental Inspection of the Western District.
This was reported by ZAHID.NET, citing a publication on the website of the Zakarpattia Oblast environmental inspectorate.
A record of the termination of the Zakarpattia inspectorate was entered in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and Public Associations on 4 November.
All of the unit's property, rights and obligations will pass to the new interregional body.
Reason for the merger
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the government resolution reducing the number of territorial bodies of the State Environmental Inspection was adopted on 29 April 2026. Instead of seven territorial districts and 11 oblast bodies, ten interregional territorial bodies will be established. In particular, five new districts were planned. In addition to the Western District, these are the Northern, North-Western, Podillia and Eastern districts.
The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture justified this decision by citing the Strategy for Reforming the State Environmental Supervision System until 2029. It also pointed to the reduction of bureaucratic procedures and the audit of public spending provided for by a 2025 presidential decree.
The Zakarpattia inspectorate's scandalous "legacy"
The media recall the trail of questionable decisions in which the region's environmental inspectorate was involved. The body came under the spotlight over damage to the ecosystem during the construction of a wind farm on high-mountain pastures.
In particular, foundations for wind turbines were built on the Runa mountain pasture without an environmental impact assessment (EIA) conclusion. In July 2025, the inspectorate deemed this lawful. It should be noted that the Ministry of Development later acknowledged that splitting a facility in this way to avoid an EIA is a direct violation of current legislation.
Recently, the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group reported that the inspectorate had once again failed to notice the destruction of Red Book species during wind farm construction.
The public also condemns the Zakarpattia inspectorate for its inaction in tackling off-road jeeping. Tourists recorded numerous violations themselves, while the inspectorate failed to go to court on its own initiative even once in nine months.
ZAHID.NET also recalls corruption scandals. In particular, in May an official of the Zakarpattia inspectorate was detained for bribery. The official had demanded $3,000 in exchange for a job at the inspectorate.
