Ecopolitics decided to recall the important contribution of public activists to the preservation of forests, steppes, flora, fauna, natural components of the urban environment, the introduction of a conscious culture of waste management, and others. They systematically and persistently make changes for the better every day, sometimes despite the opposition of officials, poachers, environmental violators and unscrupulous businessmen.
1. Evgenia Aratovska - an eco-activist and social entrepreneur, known as the founder of the public organization "Ukraine without garbage" (UBS). Under Yevgenia's leadership, UBS implements new formats of waste sorting and processing, including the opening of an ecological coffee shop that practices the Zero Waste approach. The organization is also developing a franchise, seeking to scale its influence throughout the country.
2. Volodymyr Boreyko - one of the most famous environmentalists of Ukraine. Director of the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center (KECC). He is actively engaged in combating the destruction of green zones and water bodies in the territory of Kyiv, the creation of new objects of the nature reserve fund and the protection of existing ones.
During 2024, KECC specialists are constantly monitored violation of environmental legislation in the Beloozersky National Park and on the territory of the capital, filed lawsuits with prosecutors.
Among the court cases won this year on the account of KEKC are the following:
- protection Lake Vyrlytsia in Kyiv from development – a positive decision of the Supreme Court;
- case against the "Khotivskyi" agricultural complex, which wanted to receive 5.3 hectares of green zone near the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in Pirogov for development.
- recognition the illegal resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which allowed mass felling of the Markhaliv forest near Kyiv under the military memorial cemetery – a positive decision of the Kyiv District Administrative Court.
- protection of the only natural cave "Geonaut" in the Kyiv region and 50 hectares of forests of the Kyiv forest farm near Obukhov from raiders and illegal actions of the Obukhov district administration.
3. Kateryna Harbarchuk- a specialist in the field of land at the Ukrainian Nature Protection Group. During 2024, she regularly held lectures and meetings for the public and journalists to share her experience in protecting coastal protection strips, agricultural land, and countering land manipulation. She went on expeditions around Ukraine – in particular, to Zhytomyr region and Rivne region – to record and publicize cases of violations of environmental legislation, to find areas with red book species and to create protective zones for them.
4. Olena Zhuk- eco-activist, co-founder and coordinator of the "CHYSTO.DE?!" project. Together with her husband, Roman Zhuk, she started this initiative in 2020. Every year they held eco-picnics-cleaning around the Vilshan reservoir, known as the "Transcarpathian Sea". Their public organization has already organized 24 eco-picnics and is introducing garbage collection and sorting in the local community. In 2024, Elena and her team organized a large-scale EcoFilmFestival.
5. Julia Marchel- eco-activist, founder and head of the board of Ukraine's largest eco-movement – All-Ukrainian youth movement "Let's do it, Ukraine", which is part of the international movement "Let's Do It! World". She also coordinates the "World Cleanup Day" project in Ukraine, involving millions of Ukrainians in environmental initiatives and cleanups. In 2024, more than 404,000 people took part in the event.
6. Artem Prykhodko- an eco-activist from Kharkiv. Known for its river cleaning activities. He is the initiator of the "River Detox", "Chisti Udy", "Trash Killer" and "People from People" projects.
Artem's activities also include the development of a water quality monitoring system, coastal cleaning, and tree planting. His projects are actively supported by the local community and business.
In 2024 started "Clean" eco-challenge for garbage removal in the forests and reservoirs of Kharkiv, participated in cleaning the rivers of the region from oil products that got there after the enemy attack on the oil depot.
7. Ivan Rusev- a well-known Ukrainian ecologist, doctor of biological sciences, public figure and environmentalist. Head of the research department of the National Natural Park "Tuzlivski Lymani". He is a leading scientist and one of the key activists working to preserve the nature of Ukraine. During 2024, he constantly covered the impact of the war on the ecosystems of the Black Sea and its adjacent estuaries.
8. Petro Testov– ecologist, analyst and environmentalist. Head of the analytical department at the Ukrainian Environmental Protection Group. He is known for his active activities in the field of forest protection and adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to European standards. He regularly publishes articles and participates in discussions devoted to the problems of forestry and environmental policy in Ukraine.
In 2024, he repeatedly went to places of illegal logging in the Carpathians, for example, in the territory of the Yasinyan forest and hunting farm in Transcarpathia, published information about them on social networks, went on expeditions to record the presence of rare species of plants in the forests and to achieve the expansion of the objects of the nature reserve fund to these territories.
9. Anastasia Tykha- a zoo volunteer from Irpen, who together with her husband founded the "House of Special Tails" shelter for animals with disabilities. She became known in Ukraine and beyond when, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, together with other volunteers, she evacuated more than 20 dogs with disabilities from under shelling, ensuring their safety and the necessary care. Her work draws public attention and inspires others to volunteer and help animals.
10. Semen Turuta- public figure and eco-activist from Odesa. The founder of the project "Economy of Dreams", which turns waste into resources to help the army and communities. The project unites eco-volunteers who are engaged in the collection and processing of garbage, directing the received funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Organized by "Ecomarshrut" in Odesa: Semen and other volunteers go to 6 locations in different districts of the city and collect sorted garbage brought by people. There is also the "Eco-Taxi" service, through which you can order the removal of accumulated secondary raw materials. "Economy of Dreams" also has a "reception hall of dreams" where you can also drop off trash.
There are plans to launch a new project "ShopopaloShop" — a platform for exchanging things that can be given to support the Armed Forces.
