A scandal is unfolding in the Runa Valley in the Transcarpathian region due to the start of construction of windmills without complying with the requirements of environmental legislation. The authorities of the Turye-Remetiv village council changed the purpose of the land, paving the way for the construction of a large-scale wind farm, despite the lack of an environmental impact assessment conclusion.
The decision concerns the rezoning of 28 land plots from agricultural to energy. The deputies voted unanimously for this decision. However, local activists report that the vote was held without public consultations, and public protests were ignored.
Immediately after the decision was made, foundations for wind turbines began to be poured in the valley. At the same time, the Ministry of Environmental Protection confirmed that these foundations are part of the wind farm project, and carrying out any construction work without an environmental impact assessment is a violation of the law.
The construction is being carried out by the company “UK Wind Parks of Ukraine” LLC, which relocated from Kramatorsk to Transcarpathia in 2022. Its ultimate beneficiaries are former MP Maksym Yefimov and businessman Eduard Mkrtchan.
The Runa Meadow is a unique natural area with tourism potential, and such intervention without proper environmental assessments is causing serious concern among environmentalists and public activists.
