Автор: Pavlo Lutsan – Власна робота, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69554991

Residents of the Vyhoda community in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast protested against the possible construction of a small hydropower plant on the Svicha River. Following several hours of protest, members of the settlement council convened an extraordinary session and supported an indefinite moratorium on the construction of hydropower facilities within the community.
On 1 July 2026, residents of Vyhoda blocked traffic on the R-21 Dolyna–Khust road near the settlement council building. Protesters repeatedly crossed the road at a pedestrian crossing and demanded guarantees that the proposed small hydropower plant on the Svicha River would not be built.
Their main demands included convening an extraordinary council session, introducing a moratorium on hydropower construction, removing the proposed small hydropower plant from the community’s general development plan, and publishing the minutes of the 2018 public hearings referenced in the project documentation.
Community representatives stated that the documents made available to them contained no evidence that separate public hearings had been held specifically on the proposed small hydropower plant. They also raised concerns that the planned activity could be located within or in close proximity to the locally protected landscape reserve “The Svicha River and Its Mizunka Tributary.”
According to the police, approximately 20–25 people participated in the protest. Verbal disputes occurred between several drivers and protesters, but law enforcement authorities reported that no violations had been recorded. Traffic on the road was fully restored at approximately 2:30 p.m.
The extraordinary session of the Vyhoda Settlement Council began at 3:00 p.m.
According to Suspilne Ivano-Frankivsk, council members voted to introduce an indefinite moratorium on approving the siting, design, construction, and commissioning of any hydropower facilities on the Svicha River and its tributaries within the Vyhoda community.
The council also supported removing the proposed small hydropower plant from the community’s general development plan.
Vyhoda Village Council Head Mykola Matsalak stated that residents would be able to submit proposals concerning amendments to the general plan. The community also intends to hold a public assembly where residents can present additional demands and proposals.
The possible construction of a small hydropower plant in Vyhoda has been under discussion since 2018.
In July 2024, approximately 40 community residents attended a council session during which members considered a land management proposal submitted by Ecoenerhetyka LLC. The proposal concerned the allocation of a 0.1121-hectare land plot and a change in its designated use for the construction of an energy facility.
The proposal was not supported. None of the council members present voted in favour, six voted against, eight abstained, and one did not vote.
In 2024, a company representative told Suspilne that the company possessed the required documents and that construction would not affect either the quantity or quality of the water. While preparing its report on the 1 July 2026 protest, Suspilne journalists were unable to obtain an updated comment from the company’s management.
Suspilne also reported that, in October 2025, a criminal investigation was registered following a complaint from a local resident concerning possible irregularities in the preparation of land management documentation and the change in the land plot’s designated use. The investigation concerns possible official document forgery and remains ongoing.
The registration of criminal proceedings does not in itself establish that a violation occurred or that any individual is guilty.
Environmental Importance of the Svicha River
The locally protected landscape reserve “The Svicha River and Its Mizunka Tributary” was established by a decision of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council dated 15 July 1993. Its total area is 5,940 hectares.
On 5 September 2024, the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration approved an updated regulation governing the reserve and establishing the principles for protecting its territory and natural complexes.
The protected status of the area requires particularly careful consideration of any projects that may affect the river, its tributaries and the surrounding natural ecosystems.
Position of Our Home – Manyava
Local participation, access to public documents, and transparent decision-making must be ensured whenever projects that may affect the Carpathian rivers are considered.
Projects planned within or close to protected natural areas require particularly thorough assessment. Decisions concerning rivers should not be treated solely as land-use, construction, or energy matters. A river is an interconnected ecosystem, part of the natural heritage, and a shared resource of the local community.

This article was prepared using information published by Suspilne Ivano-Frankivsk and official documents of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration. It may be updated after the full text of the extraordinary council session decision is officially published.