The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a significant increase in fines for violations of water legislation

The government has initiated amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, which provide for stricter penalties for water pollution and the irrational use of water resources. 

According to the Ministry of Economy, the current penalty amounts have long since lost their deterrent effect, as they do not reflect modern economic realities. While Russia continues to cause large-scale environmental disasters on Ukrainian territory, the state is implementing European standards for the management of inland waters to prevent the depletion of strategic resources.

The draft law proposes increasing the fine for violating state ownership rights over water from a symbolic 85–136 UAH to a substantial 3,400–5,100 UAH. The authors of the document emphasize that in EU countries, such as Croatia or Slovenia, fines for similar offenses start at 1,300 euros and can reach 20,000 euros. The new Ukrainian fine system is intended to serve as a real deterrent for violators who previously disregarded water metering rules or engaged in unauthorized water use due to negligible financial consequences.

The document also expands the list of offenses subject to administrative liability:

• failure to comply with the terms of a permit for special water use;

• destruction of riverbeds and watercourses during the construction of engineering structures;

• violation of economic activity regulations in water protection zones;

• providing false information in the field of state water accounting.

The government initiative is aimed not only at punishing direct pollution but also at combating the wasteful use of resources and illegal activities in riparian protection zones. The adoption of the bill will bring Ukrainian environmental legislation closer to European Union standards. This will ensure more effective protection of rivers and lakes from economic abuse and contribute to the restoration of the country’s aquatic ecosystems.

Earlier, Moldova appealed to the European Union for assistance after Russian shelling contaminated the Dniester River with oil. The country is requesting experts and specialized equipment to clean the river in order to prevent an environmental disaster. Some settlements in the north may be left without water, and fishing has already been banned on the river.