Odesa, 12 May 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine has delivered essential chemical reagents and laboratory consumables to regional units of the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine, bolstering the country’s capacity to monitor and respond to environmental threats in the Black Sea region.

The materials were procured under the Environmental Damage Assessment project, which is funded by the Government of Sweden.

The supplies will be used to enhance laboratory monitoring of seawater and coastal conditions in Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts. In particular, they will support rapid assessments of oil pollution levels following a significant environmental incident in the Kerch Strait at the end of 2024. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, a spill from damaged Russian tankers released large volumes of fuel oil into the Black Sea near Kerch, with oil contamination reaching the Odesa coastline in early 2025.

In response, the State Environmental Inspectorate has intensified its monitoring of marine waters and shorelines to assess the scope and consequences of the pollution. With the newly supplied materials, environmental specialists will be able to conduct more frequent and precise laboratory analyses, informing both immediate response efforts and long-term restoration planning.

“Access to modern laboratory equipment and materials greatly enhances our ability to respond to environmental emergencies,” said Acting Head of the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine Ihor Zubovych. “At a time when Ukraine’s natural environment is suffering widespread damage due to the war, this practical support from international partners is essential to our work. We’re grateful to UNDP and the Government of Sweden for their continued and meaningful assistance.”

Background:

The Environmental Damage Assessment project, implemented by UNDP with funding from Sweden, aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ukrainian authorities to assess, document, and respond to environmental damage. Through targeted support to government agencies such as the State Environmental Inspectorate and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the project contributes to the development of essential legislation, monitoring tools, and evidence-collection systems.

Media enquiries:

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org