How safe is the air in Ukraine's regional capitals?

How safe is the air in Ukraine's regional capitals? shutterstock
Maria Semenova

The situation varies greatly across the country, and air quality isn't the worst in cities with populations of over a million

In recent days, air quality in Ukraine’s major cities has been mostly moderate, with the exception of two regional centers in western Ukraine. There, pollution levels pose a health risk to people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

This is according to data from IQAir, a Swiss platform that monitors air pollution levels in cities.

In Kyiv, monitoring stations are recording good and moderate air quality, with no critical exceedances. As of the morning of March 18, the highest pollution levels were recorded by equipment installed in Osokorky and Pechersk. Additionally, there is a warning about the risk of dust pollution in the southern part of the city.

iqair.com

Source: iqair.com

It should be noted that according to the latest data in the ranking of the most polluted capitals, Kyiv is only in 68th place.

In Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lviv, air quality is also good or moderate. That means according to IQAir data, there are no critical exceedances

As of Wednesday morning, among the Ukrainian cities with IQAir posts, the most critical air quality indicators were observed in Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk. There, some monitoring stations measure pollution levels at which sensitive people may experience negative bodily reactions.

For example, on Orlyka Street in Chernivtsi, the highest is the concentration of fine particulate matter PM2.5. The indicator reaches 45.9 µg per 1 m3, which is three times higher than the daily limit established by the World Health Organization.

And on Vasylianok Street in Ivano-Frankivsk, the dust level reached as high as 54.7 µg per 1 m3.

EcoPolitic previously reported that in Lviv region, the first indicative sensor for air quality monitoring was installed.

Tags: , ,
Related
The capacity of energy storage facilities in Ukraine has increased 300-fold
The capacity of energy storage facilities in Ukraine has increased 300-fold

The main factors are the growth of the solar energy sector and the global decline in battery prices

The Chernobyl zone has become a wildlife reserve and has reintroduced Przewalski's horses
The Chernobyl zone has become a wildlife reserve and has reintroduced Przewalski's horses

Life still thrives in this radioactive and militarized territory

The budget has received over 1.5 billion UAH in environmental taxes since the beginning of 2026
The budget has received over 1.5 billion UAH in environmental taxes since the beginning of 2026

The top spot in terms of revenue goes not to a region, but to a city

Due to climate change, southern Ukraine will lose its agricultural potential, while the role of the west will grow
Due to climate change, southern Ukraine will lose its agricultural potential, while the role of the west will grow

Extreme heat and minimal rainfall are forcing farmers to choose more resilient crops