The Zhdeniiv community in Zakarpattia is threatened with flooding due to the construction of an unauthorized crossing. Ice has begun to break up on the Latorica and Zhdenivka rivers, but it cannot flow freely down the riverbed due to the temporary structure. It was previously built to allow vehicles to pass through while constructing a road to the Runa mountain pasture. This road will be used to transport large equipment to the wind farm, which, according to activists, is being built illegally in the Carpathians.
According to the environmental community "Save Pikui," employees of the State Emergency Service are currently working at the site of the natural disaster.
The crossing is "temporary," but the problems are long-term
The illegal crossing in the village of Pidpolozzia is now being urgently dismantled. If the obstacle is not removed from the riverbed, flooding threatens residential households, a gas pipeline, and other bridges across the river. According to local residents, the work is being carried out on an emergency basis.
The temporary crossing was built by Uzhdorbud LLC, as activists learned from a response by the State Environmental Inspectorate. This route was created for the passage of oversized machinery used in the construction of the Zbyni–Preluki forest road to Polonyna Runa.
“It is along this road that it is planned to transport blades for the illegal WPP on the polonyna, where construction is ongoing in violation of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Environmental Impact Assessment’ and the construction of a storage facility for wind turbines within the boundaries of the village of Zhdeniyevo,” reported “Save Pikui.”
The community points out that due to activities by “Vitroparky,” one of the bridges in the Zhdynii community has already been destroyed. Therefore, at the confluence of the two rivers, the temporary crossing was set up to avoid risking another bridge, which remains intact for now.
Responsible authorities failed to identify violations
Back in August 2025, the “Save Pikui” organization addressed the State Environmental Inspectorate of Zakarpattia Oblast regarding the illegal construction. At that time, the regulatory agency did not identify any violations.
The environmental inspectors did not notice any non-compliance with the law “On Environmental Impact Assessment,” although according to activists, its fulfillment is mandatory during the construction of such facilities on rivers. Since the State Environmental Inspectorate did not identify any violations, they decided not to draft protocols. Another detail – the inspectors then decided not to summon the police to the site of the illegal construction.
The major share of responsibility, according to “Save Pikui,” rests with the local authorities.
“All this construction and the immediate danger to residents was carried out with the full support of the head of the Zhdeniyivska Settlement Council, Kultana V.M. (who is accused in a bribery case related to the placement of a children's tented Christian camp), along with the entire council and executive committee of the village council,” the eco-community writes.
EcoPolitic previously reported that the Ministry of Economy resumed consideration of the Environmental Impact Assessment procedure for the construction of the Turian WPP.
