Ukrainian national parks and regional authorities are launching a large-scale campaign to crack down on off-roaders. In some areas, they are setting up camera traps and stepping up raids; in others, they are threatening to confiscate vehicles. At the same time, the number of enthusiasts of this nature-destroying extreme sport shows no sign of abating, and social media is awash with reports of ever-new incidents where, for the sake of entertainment, offenders are literally erasing the natural landscape.
EcoPolitic has compiled information for its readers on the new restrictions, fines and egregious cases of off-roading that have occurred recently.
Covert surveillance in ‘Synevyr’
The picturesque ‘Synevyr’ National Nature Park is also suffering from ‘wild’ tourism. Off-roading enthusiasts have become so brazen that they are destroying both the national park’s territory and nearby private agricultural land. Consequently, the park’s administration has decided to move from issuing warnings to taking concrete action.
A post by the national park on 13 July revealed that the surveillance network within the reserve has been stepped up. The illegal routes most popular with off-roaders, as well as forest tracks and access roads to local residents’ plots, are now under the watch of additional photo and video traps.
“All collected evidence of such violations will be immediately handed over to law enforcement agencies for the prosecution of those responsible under administrative law, and, in the case of significant damage, under criminal law as well,” the reserve warned.
Other reserves constantly remind the public that off-roading is a violation of Ukrainian law. They combat it in different ways. For example, in Male Polissia National Park, in addition to visual campaigns and patrolling, it was decided to block entrance roads with barriers and install warning signs.
Local solutions
Local authorities are often quite declarative in their bans. For instance, at the beginning of July, Rakhiv District Administration announced the holding of a coordination meeting to address off-roading.
The event was essentially not about practical measures, but rather a discussion of possible actions. These included:
- installing signs prohibiting entry in areas popular with off-roaders;
- police patrols in zones of frequent violations;
- creating official locations where off-roaders can “let off steam” without harming the environment.
Soon after, the Tourist Information Center of Rakhiv District reminded the public about the ban on off-roading with any motorized vehicles and warned that regular patrols would be conducted in the area to detect violations. In extreme cases, vehicle seizure is also possible.
Businessmen and tourists ignore the bans
Journalists from Groza-news have found that, despite all bans, jeeping remains a popular tourist attraction in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. At the very least, tourist websites openly offer various service packages. The cost of a trip ranges from 3,000 to 6,500 UAH.
Photos and videos reveal the true scale of the disaster. On weekends, entire convoys of off-road vehicles head into the forests.
Source: Groza-news
Painful cases for nature
In the Rakhiv district, a group of people from the Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regions recently organized car races along the channel of a mountain river.
The head of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration, Myroslav Biletskyi, reported that law enforcement officers documented all details of the violation and collected the necessary materials.
However, in this particular case, the area where the incident took place does not belong to the nature reserve fund.
Still, the high mountain lake Hreshaska is a protected area, and a similar situation occurred there. A case has been opened under Article 252, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Source: Volodymyr Rizun
Responsibility
Jeeping in protected areas has been officially banned since the beginning of last year. EcoPolitic reported that the President of Ukraine signed Law No. 4188-IX "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine 'On the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine' Regarding Ensuring the Preservation of Territories and Objects of the Nature Reserve Fund and Expanding their Classification" back in early February 2025.
This form of recreation is a violation described by the Law of Ukraine "On the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine" (Articles 16, 21) and the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (Articles 91, 77-1).
The fines themselves are actually insignificant. Citizens will be required to pay from 9 to 24 non-taxable minimum incomes, and officials from 15 to 30. This amounts to a maximum of 408 and 510 UAH, respectively.
However, compensation for environmental damage can be significant. For instance, in the Khotyn National Park, referencing Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 575 dated 17.05.2022, the following amounts are reported:
- 6,400 UAH for every 100 m travelled by car;
- 4,000 UAH for every 100 m by ATV, moped, or motorcycle.
The Ministry of Economy, reporting on intensified raids in reserves, added that vehicle confiscation is also possible.
