Journalists from BIHUS.Info (a prominent Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet) recently published an exposé concerning renewed plans for the construction of a major resort on the Borzhava Polonyna. A polonyna is a term for the unique, subalpine or alpine meadows and pastures found on the high-altitude ridges of the Ukrainian Carpathians.
This controversial idea is being aggressively promoted by Vladyslav Kaskiv, a deputy of the Zakarpattia Oblast Council (the regional parliament) who previously represented the now-banned pro-Russian political party OPZZh (Opposition Platform — For Life). Kaskiv originally began pursuing this resort project during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych and has been implicated in various criminal proceedings.
Illegal Actions to Facilitate Construction
To push the project forward, several illegal and legally questionable steps have already been taken:
- The boundaries of the “Temnatyk” conservation reserve (zakaznyk—a nationally designated protected area) have been illegally altered.
- Easements (servituty) have been established on lands belonging to the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” (the state forestry management body).
- A draft Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is being prepared that would transfer state-owned forests for construction purposes.
The Conservation Position
The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG)‘s position is clear: No construction on the high-altitude ridges is acceptable or legal. This includes neither wind farms nor resorts.
High-altitude polonynas, particularly the Borzhava ridge, are unique natural ecosystems rich in numerous rare species of flora and fauna and are home to habitats protected under international conventions. These ecosystems must be preserved for their inherent biological value and ecological integrity.
Link to the investigative report – here.
