Region: Zakarpattia Oblast, Polonyna Runa, outside the village of Turie-Remety, Uzhhorod District.
Case: Protection of biodiversity in a territory proposed for inclusion in the Emerald Network; defense of the public’s right to proper spatial planning and participation in environmental decision-making.
Problem:
The Turie-Remety Village Council approved a Detailed Territorial Plan (DTP) for the construction of 30 wind turbines (WTs) on Polonyna Runa—a mountainous natural area located among numerous nature conservation sites, with exceptional landscape, ecological, and recreational value. Polonyna Runa is a valuable natural site in Zakarpattia; adjacent areas include protected forest reserves, and the tract itself is a key natural and recreational landscape feature of the region. The area covered by the DTP overlaps a high-value forest protection zone. The Polonyna Runa tract borders or partially overlaps the nationally significant ornithological reserve “Sokolovi Skeli” and the zoological reserve “Turie-Polyanskyi”.
The project was declared to be the “creation of a unified and high-quality recreational space with gently integrated green energy facilities while preserving the recreational potential and value of the Carpathian region. Use of natural potential without environmental harm or impeding community development.” In reality, however, the DTP approval initiated industrial development. Large-scale interference with the natural landscape, including road construction, technical platforms, and deforestation of valuable and primeval forests, poses a threat to the preservation of the unique Carpathian ecosystems.
The DTP approval was accompanied by numerous violations of national legislation, including the Law of Ukraine “On Urban Planning Regulation” and the procedure for public hearings on urban planning documents at the local level. The plan was not properly published, and public discussion was held only formally. The decision was made without open public dialogue: community members were denied not only the chance to influence the decision-making process, but also proper access to documentation and explanations. This approach violates both Ukrainian law and international obligations, particularly Article 6 of the Aarhus Convention, which guarantees public rights to access information, participate in environmentally significant decisions, and access to justice in case of violations.
Key Facts:
July 25, 2023 The Turie-Remety Village Council adopted Resolution No. 929, granting permission to develop a DTP for the Polonyna Runa tract for wind farm construction. The Council itself was the client, with LLC “Vitryanyi Park Turyanskyi” responsible for financing and development. May 23, 2024: The Council adopted Resolution No. 1242 approving the DTP for wind farm construction.
June 6, 2024 The investor published a notice of planned activity in the Unified Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Register.
December 23, 2024 The EIA report was published. EPL identified multiple violations (see analysis here). January 9, 2025: Public hearings on the EIA report took place.
January 22, 2025: The Ministry of Environmental Protection issued Order No. 101, suspending review of the developer’s EIA documentation (see EPL publication here).
Despite this, the Council issued four urban planning conditions (UPCs) in favor of LLC “Vitryanyi Park Runa-1”, a sub-lessee of the main investor, and registered four notices of construction commencement. On-site inspections revealed groundwork for turbine foundations and forest clearing.
April 18, 2025 EPL submitted a complaint to the Prosecutor General’s Office on environmental crimes in Polonyna Runa. As of April 30, 2025, the case was forwarded to the Uzhhorod District Prosecutor’s Office.
Court cases:
Challenging the Urban Planning Documentation for the Wind Farm
September 2024 EPL filed a lawsuit in Zakarpattia Administrative Court (Case No. 260/5885/24) demanding annulment of the DTP approval.
January 2025 The court ordered a land and technical examination to determine whether the disputed land plots fall within the Carpathian Mountain region. This paused proceedings until an expert opinion is received (see ruling here).
EPL appealed the ruling, arguing the examination was irrelevant and used by the defendant to delay the process. March 25, 2025 The Eighth Administrative Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal (see court decision here).
April 14, 2025 Proceedings resumed to collect additional documents for the expert. EPL requested injunctive relief to prohibit issuing new UPCs.
April 29, 2025 The court denied the motion, ignoring environmental risks and not evaluating ecological arguments (see ruling here).
May 2, 2025 The case was again paused pending expert conclusions (see ruling here).
Challenging the Ministry’s Order to Suspend the EIA Process
February 17, 2025 LLC “Vitryanyi Park Turyanskyi” filed a claim against the Ministry of Environmental Protection, challenging Order No. 101 dated January 22, 2025.
The order halted the EIA review due to EPL’s complaint and the ongoing court case regarding the legality of the DTP.
The plaintiff argued the order unjustifiably hindered their business activities.
March 5, 2025 The case (No. 260/1284/25) was initiated and assigned to Judge Yu. Doru, proceeding in simplified form based on written evidence.
March 24, 2025 The court allowed EPL to join the case as a third party supporting the Ministry.
May 1, 2025 The plaintiff withdrew the claim, and the court closed the case the same day (see ruling here).