A company associated with Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi plans to build not only the Svidovets resort in the Carpathians but also two other resorts – Bystrica and Turbat

A company associated with Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky plans to build not only the “Svydovets” resort in the Carpathians but also two other resorts – “Bystrytsia” and “Turbat.”

Maps show that all three resorts will be connected to each other and to the existing “Bukovel” resort.

As a result, a mega-resort spanning at least 2800 hectares, capable of accommodating more than 65,000 visitors at once (including Bukovel), will be created.

For comparison, this area is two-thirds the size of the city of Uzhhorod in terms of area and half its population.

A court hearing tomorrow will determine whether the construction will commence.

The planned area for the two new resorts is 1400 hectares, with a capacity for 25,000 people simultaneously, featuring over 200 km of ski slopes and 28 lifts.

In 2016, the Zakarpattia Regional Council announced intentions to build a large ski resort on the Svydovets ridge. The initiative came from a company linked to Ihor Kolomoisky, who is associated with the Bukovel ski resort.

Why is this considered an environmental catastrophe? Because the construction of these ski resorts will destroy and damage at least 3000 hectares of wild Carpathian forests, meadows, and rivers. Activists warn that the development, ski slopes, and lifts will pass through protected areas, habitats of numerous red-listed plants and animals, and the unique mountain lakes of Svydovets.

Activists from Free Svydovets have calculated that servicing the three resorts will require 15,000 cubic meters of water daily. These needs will be met by using Carpathian rivers, particularly the Chorna Tysa.