The Environmental Inspectorate confirmed that access to the river in Kozin has been blocked: activists claim that Poroshenko’s estate is located there
24 June 18:03
EXCLUSIVE
The State Environmental Inspection conducted an inspection of the coastal strip near the estate of Ukraine’s fifth president, Petro Poroshenko, in the village of Kozin, Kyiv Oblast. ATO veteran, volunteer, and civic activist Oleksandr Shvetsov wrote about this on his Facebook page on June 16. The inspection focused on possible restrictions on citizens’ free access to the water. The inspection was carried out from the water, as access by land is blocked by private fences, the activist noted.
“Together with environmental inspectors, we surveyed Petro Poroshenko’s estate from the water, since it is practically impossible to reach it from the shore—fences have been erected on both sides, which, as can be seen in the photo, extend directly into the water,” Shvetsov stated.
He added that he is awaiting the official report on the inspection’s findings and plans to demand the removal of the fences if violations of current legislation—which guarantees citizens unimpeded access to bodies of water—are documented.
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As it turns out, there is some legal confusion surrounding the inspection, but environmental inspectors did document violations along the banks of the Kozin River.
In response to the inquiry
“Between 2024 and 2026, the State Environmental Inspection did not participate in inspections of the coastal protection zone or land plots in the village of Kozin or in the Koncha-Zaspa area in general,” — reads the response signed by Acting Head Oleksandr Subotenko.
At the same time, the agency explained that these matters fall under the jurisdiction of its territorial office, to which the inquiry was forwarded: “State supervision (control) over compliance with environmental protection legislation within the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv region is carried out by the State Environmental Inspection of the Capital District.”
The State Environmental Inspectorate of the Capital District confirmed that inspections in Kozin did indeed take place this year and that illegal obstructions were identified there.
“In 2026, the State Environmental Inspectorate of the Capital District conducted inspections of the coastal protection zone within the territory of the Kozin Village Council, during which it was established that citizens’ unimpeded access to the water body was being restricted,” — Bogdan Hnatiuk, acting head of the inspection, officially stated.
Based on the results of these inspections, environmental officials have already drawn up the relevant reports. The materials and requests to address the situation have been sent to local authorities, who are legally authorized to dismantle the illegal structures:
“…letters have been sent to the Kozin Village Council and the Obukhiv District State Administration regarding the urgent implementation of response measures aimed at ensuring citizens’ unimpeded access to the water body in accordance with their delegated powers,” — stated the State Environmental Inspection of the Capital District.
Issues regarding the Land and Water Codes were left unaddressed
At the same time, the Kyiv City Environmental Inspectorate declined to comment on other details of the request concerning the interpretation of legislation, emphasizing that this does not fall within their responsibilities.
“Other questions… do not constitute a request for public information, but rather a request for clarification and interpretation of Ukrainian legislation, specifically: the Land Code of Ukraine and the Water Code of Ukraine. The interpretation, analysis, and provision of clarifications regarding regulatory legal acts do not fall within the authority and competence of the Inspectorate,” concluded Bohdan Hnatiuk.
What’s next?
The presence of fences in the water on the territory of the Kozin Village Council, as reported by civic activists, has been officially confirmed by state authorities. The ball is now in the court of the Kozin Village Council and the Obukhiv District State Administration, which must take “urgent measures” to restore citizens’ free access to the river.
It should be noted that this is not the first time the issue of the legality of the use of the riverbank in Kozin has been raised. According to information from the State Register of Real Property Rights, which was published in the media in 2015, Petro Poroshenko secured a long-term lease (for 50 years) of a 0.75-hectare plot of land. According to the documents, the waterfront plot was granted for “the construction and maintenance of coastal protection structures.” It adjoins another 3.3-hectare plot where former President Poroshenko’s house is reportedly located.
Some media outlets, including Telegraf, have previously claimed that this lease effectively prevents local residents from accessing the river, and that the area itself is under heavy security. The editorial board reserves the right to publish the positions of all parties mentioned in this article. In particular, we have already sent an official request for information to the press service of the “European Solidarity” political party. Should official comments or clarifications be provided, they will be published in full.
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