Why is the Zakhar Berkut resort closing on March 1, and what will replace it?
26 February 12:55
The Zakhar Berkut ski resort near Slavske will cease operations in its current format on March 1, 2026. After that, a large-scale modernization will begin — Ukraine’s first gondola lift will be built on the site of the existing ski lift. This was reported by the press service of GORO Mountain Resort, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The first gondola lift in Ukraine: what is known
The new lift will be 2.8 km long and will be able to carry up to 2,800 passengers per hour. The ascent to the top will take about nine minutes.
The gondola lift will operate year-round:
- in winter — for skiers and snowboarders;
- in summer — for cyclists and tourists;
- throughout the year — for sightseeing and mountain walks.
Investments in the construction of the gondola lift are estimated at €20 million. The opening is scheduled for 2027.
Part of the large-scale GORO project
The Zakhar Berkut resort, opened in 2005, was acquired by OKKO Group in 2022. The territory became part of the first phase of the future international all-season resort — GORO Mountain Resort.
Construction began in October 2024 in the Slavska community.
In addition to the gondola lift, the project includes:
- A Welcome Center;
- two new chairlifts;
- three new ski slopes;
- a modern snowmaking system.
The total investment in mountain infrastructure is approximately €100 million.
176 hectares for construction
Earlier, deputies of the Lviv Regional Council approved the transfer of 176 hectares of land for the construction of a resort in the villages of Volosyanka and Verkhnia Rozhanska.
The following are planned to be built:
- 41 ski slopes with a total length of 75 km;
- 25 hotels with 5,150 rooms;
- spa areas, restaurants, and tourist infrastructure.
The launch of the first phase of the slopes is planned for the 2026–2027 season.
According to the law, the company must compensate for forestry losses — approximately UAH 300 million.
What this means for Slavske
The GORO project could become one of the largest mountain tourism clusters in Ukraine and significantly strengthen Slavska’s position as a center for winter and all-season tourism.
The modernization of Zakhar Berkut is the first step towards creating a large-scale resort of international standard.
