There are plans to build three more large-scale wind farms in the high-altitude region of the Carpathians. The companies behind the projects have their roots in Donetsk and are owned by just two individuals. What is more, the authorities have joined the search for investors in the construction project at an international level.
This was reported by the media outlet ‘Espreso’, citing information from the website of the Carpathian Eight Summit.
The event, in particular, served as a presentation of investment projects that could potentially be of interest to foreign investors. The list also includes three wind farms planned for construction in the high-altitude region of the Carpathians. All the wind farm projects were initiated by Wind Parks of Ukraine Ltd and Friendly Wind Technologies Ltd.
These are the projects in question:
- The ‘Ust-Chorna West’ wind farm, with a capacity of 176.8 MW;
- The ‘Zhdenievo’ wind farm, with a capacity of 93.6 MW;
- The ‘Gostra’ wind farm, with a capacity of 67.6 MW.
These power stations are set to form part of a wind energy cluster planned for Transcarpathia. Its total capacity is estimated at 1.5 GW, whilst the investment required for the three projects outlined is approximately $428 million.
It is worth noting that the EU is to be the recipient of this energy. In proposing the creation of this cluster, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Carpathians have the potential to become a source of energy for the European Union.
At present, the wind farm projects are still at the feasibility study stage.
Affiliated companies
Both companies listed as the project initiators are based in Kramatorsk. They have common beneficiaries:
Wind Parks of Ukraine Ltd: 50 per cent is owned by Maxim Yefimov, and 50 per cent by the Cypriot company Astrella Holdings Limited. Its ultimate beneficial owners are Maxim Yefimov himself and Rafael Mkrtchan.
Friendly Wind Technology Ltd: 50% is owned by Maxim Yefimov, 25% by Rafael Mkrtchan, and 25% by Strong Project Ltd. Yefimov and Mkrtchan are also its ultimate beneficial owners.
As a reminder, it is ‘Vitroparks’ that are building the wind farm on the Runa mountain pasture. In February 2026, the Ministry of Economy issued an environmental impact assessment report for this project, although construction had in fact begun as early as 2025. This was accompanied by attempts by environmental activists, the public and even Members of Parliament to halt the destruction of the fragile ecosystem of the high-altitude mountain pasture. But to no avail.
Subsequently, DIAM acknowledged that the separation of the foundations from the main project was unlawful; however, the Ministry stated that it was unable to halt the project’s implementation.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that there are plans to clear the forest to build a road to the Gostra mountain pasture, whilst in the Zhdeniivska community, despite all the promises, logging has resumed to make way for a power line. This is accompanied by the destruction of the habitats of rare animal species.
