Petition to Zelenskyy Demanding Protection of the Carpathians Gains Over 25,000 Signatures in 6 Days: Who Supported It?

26.03.2026

A petition by veteran and biologist Andrii Tupikov demanding the protection of the Carpathian highlands from wind turbines and chaotic development of “monster resorts” has gained over 25,000 votes in 6 days. This was reported by the civic initiative “Holka.” The petition was registered at the Office of the President on the fifth attempt.

Tupikov demands that the President urgently submit a bill to the Verkhovna Rada to regulate the special conditions for the sustainable development of the Carpathian region and ensure the protection of its unique natural complexes, landscapes, and culture.

The President’s legislative initiative must also make it impossible to conduct clear-cutting of forests, any forms of large-scale construction, and the placement of related engineering infrastructure in areas above 1,000 meters above sea level, as well as in other natural areas key to the conservation of biodiversity, water resources, and landscapes.

The author of the petition, Andrii Tupikov, emphasizes that a few months after his election, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated: “We understand that for many of you, the Carpathians are just a big trough, but this is our country, and we won’t let you eat it.” The veteran adds that the Carpathians occupy only 4% of Ukraine’s territory, while their highland part is less than 1% and remains the last wilderness reserve where veterans can undergo rehabilitation.

“At a time when Russian aggression against Ukraine leads to numerous destructions of infrastructure and significant damage to nature and cultural heritage, we have no right to manually scale these losses within the country, destroying the Carpathians under the cover of narrow sectoral interests. Preserving the Carpathians is not only our national duty but also the fulfillment of Ukraine’s international environmental obligations. The loss of these territories would mean the loss of a natural resource capable of supporting the recovery of society in the post-war period,” the petition reads.

Additionally, Tupikov emphasizes the urgent need to create new and expand existing protected areas in the Carpathians, including: the “Vilnyi Svydovets,” “Polonyna Hostra,” “Polonyna Krasna,” “Polonyna Apetska,” “Polonyna Bychkiv,” “Lyutyanska Holytsya,” and “Verkhovynskyi Vododilnyi Range” reserves, as well as the “Majestic Carpathians” and “Verkhovynskyi” national nature parks. Requests for this were submitted to the relevant ministry long ago.

Who Supported the Petition?

The petition was supported by prominent public figures, journalists, and bloggers, including:

Serhiy Kvit, President of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Ihor Kondratiuk, producer.
Mykhailo Tkach, investigative journalist (Ukrainska Pravda).
Ihor Lachenkov, blogger.
Hanna Hopko and Daria Kaleniuk, heads of NGOs ANTS and the Anti-Corruption Action Center.

Additionally, several environmental organizations stood up for the Carpathians: “Ecology-People-Law,” “Ecoaction,” “WWF-Ukraine,” “Greenpeace Ukraine,” “Ecoclub,” “Ecosphere,” “Free Svydovets,” “Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group,” and “Holka.”

The petition was also publicly supported by MPs from various factions: Yulia Ovchynnykova and Oleksandr Danutsa (Sluha Narodu); Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Iryna Gerashchenko, and Volodymyr Viatrovych (European Solidarity); Natalia Pipa, Roman Lozynskyi, and Yaroslav Yurchyshyn (Holos), among others.

Context and Background

Emerald Network Bill: MPs failed to pass the “On Emerald Network” bill back in 2021. At that time, journalists captured correspondence between MPs from Zakarpattia suggesting the law would make construction in the Carpathians impossible and should be blocked. The law remains unpassed.
Bill 12089 (The “Ihor Mazepa Law”): In 2025, the Verkhovna Rada supported a law that attempted to nullify claims against those who misappropriated green zones and coastlines if more than 10 years had passed since the illegal alienation. The European Parliament and European Commission criticized this law, calling it the “legalization of stolen property.”
Civil Code Project: A new draft of the Civil Code, lobbied by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, poses an even greater threat to nature and cultural heritage.
Ministry of Environmental Protection: In 2025, the Verkhovna Rada merged three ministries into one, resulting in the disappearance of the Ministry of Environment. Despite an appeal from nearly 130 organizations, Parliament has not restored the specialized ministry.
Polonyna Runa Case (2026): The Ministry of Economy issued a positive environmental impact assessment for the construction of wind turbines on Polonyna Runa by a firm linked to former “Regional” party member Maksym Efimov. The road to the mountain was built by the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” at its own expense, cutting down old-growth forest and starting foundation work before receiving official permits. Environmentalists criticized the decision, noting that it establishes unequal rules for business, penalizing those who wait for legal permits.