Wind farm construction on Runa Meadow halted in Zakarpattia

This was confirmed to a Ukrinform correspondent by ha Melen-Zabramna, head of the legal department of the international organization Environment-Pele-Law (EPL).

"Despite public protests, the develer had been taking steps to initiate the wind farm construction on Runa Meadow in Zakarpattia. However, on January 22, 2025, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued an order to halt the review of the EIA documents for this project. This decision was made flowing our petitions to suspend the process based on provisions of the Ukrainian laws 'On the Permit System in Economic Activities' and 'On Administrative Procedure’," Melen-Zabramna stated.

According to her, EPL had previously submitted similar petitions to the ministry but received a response only now.

"Since September 2024, there has been an ongoing court case in which EPL is the plaintiff against the wind farm construction on Runa Meadow. The defendants have repeatedly delayed the case, citing requests to recuse judges, appoint additional expert reviews, or simply failing to appear at hearings. However, with the ministry's decision, the develer now has no interest in pronging the proceedings, and we expect the case to move forward more quickly," she added.

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The EPL lawyer also mentioned plans to challenge the EIA conclusion on the grounds that it downplays the environmental impact of the project.

"The area contains valuable soils, protected natural areas, including important ornithogical sites, that would be affected by the wind farm. We, along with public representatives, have already submitted our comments on the EIA, as required by the procedure," Melen-Zabramna said.

She emphasized that the ministry's decision is not only an interim victory for the protection of Runa Meadow but also an important precedent for safeguarding other natural areas from risky develment projects.

As reported by Ukrinform, a develer in Zakarpattia plans to build the country's first wind farm on Runa Meadow. The project has sparked public outcry, as the meadow is a pular tourist destination and a key regional attraction. It is surrounded by protected areas and is also a site where locals clect wild berries. According to preliminary information, the company Friendly Wind Technogy plans to install up to 30 wind turbines on the site.

Meanwhile, activists have filed a petition on the Zakarpattia Regional Council's website to suspend the construction of industrial wind farms in the Carpathian Mountains. The petition calls for the council to introduce a moratorium on planning and building wind farms in the mountainous areas of Zakarpattia until the official approval of a mountain territory planning scheme for the Carpathians, in accordance with a Cabinet of Ministers decision and the requirements of Ukraine's Law "On Urban Develment Regulation."