Destroyed soils, disturbed vegetation, and disrupted wild animal habitats: the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine has summarized the interim results of the fight against illegal off-roader rides through protected areas since the beginning of 2026.
Damage to Ukraine's protected areas from illegal off-roading since the beginning of 2026 has already reached approximately 1.4 million hryvnias. Relevant data was published by the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The State Ecological Inspectorate of Ukraine assessed this amount of damage based on the processing of 14 citizen complaints regarding illegal vehicle passage through areas of the natural reserve fund (NRF), which were received, in particular, through the official service "EcoZahroza".
How off-roading threatens the natural reserve fund
The relevant ministry emphasizes once again that the movement of off-road vehicles and quad bikes through protected zones is a direct violation of Ukraine's environmental legislation.
According to the Ministry of Environment, off-roading causes irreparable damage to ecosystems:
destroys ecosystem integrity;
critically damages soil cover and unique vegetation;
destroys natural habitats of wild animals and forces them to leave their usual living places.
Such actions are subject to administrative liability under Article 91 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (violation of the rules for the protection and use of natural reserve fund areas and objects).
Raid results and court practice
To stop the lawlessness of extreme vehicle drivers, the State Ecological Inspectorate conducted joint raids with employees of the Carpathian National Nature Park and units of the National Police:
conducted 6 state control measures;
recorded 7 instances of illegal passage through protected lands;
drew up and submitted 7 administrative protocols to the court;
calculated UAH 41.7 thousand in specific damages and sent demands for their compensation to the direct violators.
The remaining amount from the estimated UAH 1.4 million in damages was calculated based on violations recorded from citizen complaints regarding the actions of unidentified persons.
"Protected areas are created for nature conservation, not for illegal extreme tourism. We will continue to strengthen control so that such violations do not become the norm for citizens," emphasized Deputy Minister Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi.
Conflicts on the ground and community position
Increased inspections have already met resistance from organizers of such entertainment. In particular, in Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk region, representatives of the jeep business organized a protest near Ecological Control Point No. 1 of the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Carpathian District, attempting to block the work of inspectors after another raid on July 21.
At the same time, the Yaremche City Council notes that Mayor Andriy Myronyak does not hold a categorical position against tourism, but is convinced that the off-roading sector requires clear legislative regulation and dialogue between business, environmentalists, and authorities.
We remind you that at the state level, the ban on off-roading in reserves and national parks is already enshrined in legislation – in 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a relevant bill, which was signed by the President.
Read also: Knights, medieval camp, and concerts: a festival will be held in Lviv region near the Tustan rocks
How to report violators through "EcoZahroza"
The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture urges not to remain indifferent and to document instances of illegal off-roader passage.
Register on the official "EcoZahroza" resource using GOV ID, providing the necessary personal data (full name, email, phone number, address).
In the upper right corner, click the "Report" button.
Select the appropriate impact category - "Protected Areas" or "Forest, Flora, Fauna".
Describe the situation in detail, add precise geodata and, if available, photo or video evidence.
Submit the appeal. The system will automatically identify the responsible authority (in Prykarpattia, this is the environmental control point of the State Ecological Inspectorate) and allow you to track the application's progress in real time.
