Weeks of monitoring by journalists of one of the springs in the Carpathian National Nature Park have revealed a brazen and illegal scheme for supplying spring water to hotels in Bukovel. Powerful pumps were operating there every day, and drivers were paid in cash. The equipment has now been sealed, but the State Environmental Inspectorate cannot investigate the national park’s activities without permission from the Ministry of Economy.
This was reported in a feature on ‘StopCorruption TV’.
Organised ‘operations’ and the volumes of protected water being extracted
Everything ran according to schedule — roughly from 08:00 to 20:00 every day. In 45–60 minutes, journalists recorded 7–8 tankers arriving. Assuming a capacity of 10 cubic metres per tanker, 840–1,560 cubic metres of water could be transported from a single source in a ‘working’ day — between a third and a half of the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Source: "StopCorruption TV"
Admittedly, there are concerns regarding hygiene standards: journalists from ‘StopCorruption TV’ observed one of the drivers urinating just a few metres from the spring from which the protected water was being transported to luxury hotels.
"СтопКорупції ТБ"
Breach of the law
Water abstraction on such a scale, particularly where it is intended for future sale, requires a special water use permit. This is regulated by Articles 48–49 of the Water Code of Ukraine. Furthermore, given the location of the abstraction point — within the territory of a national park — a permit must also be obtained in accordance with Article 9-1 of the Law ‘On the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine’.
Destination
Journalists documented not only the fact that water was being drawn, but also the final recipients of the water. After following one of the vehicles, they saw it pull up outside one of the hotels in Bukovel.
"At the same location, journalists noticed that there was more than one lorry. Another vehicle was parked near a neighbouring building – presumably a future hotel – and cash was being handed over to its driver," reported "StopCorruption".
Anonymous estimates of earnings
The Telegram channel ‘Vykryvach’ reported that a single industrial water intake point in the Carpathian National Park could generate $20,000 a month. This information was allegedly provided by staff involved in these dubious operations.
It is not yet known whether anyone other than the drivers received any money. That is a matter for the investigation.
A return visit and the strange reaction of the nature reserve staff
A second visit by journalists to the site helped to confirm that the water extraction was systematic. On that occasion, a tanker truck once again arrived at the spring to collect water, and the driver was paid in cash outside the hotel.
Journalists called the police. Miraculously, this brought the water extraction and the flow of traffic to a halt. A national park representative wearing a uniformed vest blocked the barrier, which he had previously opened for the tankers (this was captured on video). ‘StopCor’ suspects that someone rang him.
Джерело: "СтопКорупції ТБ"
The nature reserve itself has no authority to issue a permit for such works, as the limits are set exclusively by the Ministry of Economy and the Environment, and a permit can only be issued within those limits. As for the barrier, the situation is not so straightforward either. It is lawful to block access for the purpose of protecting the nature reserve, but not on the route to a source of water for public use. In this case, the actions of the administration or third parties may be challenged in court.
The man was later found, but he denied having worked for the national park.
"When asked who, then, controls access to the spring, the man did not give a clear answer, merely repeating several times: ‘The director knows’. The employee did not explain which director he was referring to or what exactly that person knew," the journalists reported.
Identifying those involved
To find out whether the management is aware of the water intake and who controls the barrier at the spring, the editorial team at “Stop Corruption TV” sent an enquiry to Stepan Goshovsky, director of the Carpathian National Nature Park.
Source: "StopCorruption TV"
Journalists filed a report with the police regarding the water extraction. The pump was seized by the police. For the time being, the tankers that were transporting the water have been sealed, and the barrier at the spring has been locked.
Source: "StopCorruption TV"
Those involved in these actions may face the following penalties:
- administrative — under Article 91 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences (“Breach of the rules governing the protection and use of territories and sites within the nature reserve fund”);
- criminal — under Article 242 of the Criminal Code (‘Breach of water protection regulations’).
Representatives of the State Environmental Inspectorate also arrived at the scene. However, they cannot inspect the national park’s operations without the approval of the Ministry of Economy.
However, there are already speculations in the media regarding those involved in the deal. The water abstraction in the national park is linked to the businessman Bohdan Vasilkov. Among his registered business activities is KVED code 36.00, ‘Water abstraction, treatment and supply’. His wife, Khrystyna Vasilkova, secretary of the Polianytsia village council, declared over 9.5 million hryvnias in her husband’s business income for 2024. He also owns lorries, including a MAN TGS 18.440.
"The editorial team has not been able to establish whether the tankers that journalists saw near the spring belong to Vasilkov. Nor can it confirm that Goshevsky receives any money from this activity," StopCor emphasised.
However, journalists are cautiously anticipating that these activities may resume once the police have moved on.
As a reminder, journalists had previously uncovered discrepancies in Stepan Goshovsky’s declaration. In this regard, the journalists planned to refer the matter to the anti-corruption and regulatory authorities.
Back in 2022, staff at the nature reserve were outraged by the appointment of an official as head of the Carpathian National Park.
