Svetlana Grinchuk discussed solutions for the Ros River pool: "We have a unified action plan for everyone involved."

The effective resolution of issues concerning the Ros River basin is only possible through the synergy of state and local authorities, the public, and local communities in developing plans and making decisions.

Today, we are working in the Cherkasy region. We have already discussed the results of our collaborative efforts and the next steps with representatives of the Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi community. This is where "all the problems" accumulate from upstream. This community has become the initiator of uniting efforts to address these issues, gathering over 25,000 signatures on a petition to the President of Ukraine.

There is now a common Action Plan for the comprehensive resolution of problems in the Ros River basin until 2030. It was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in July of last year, and we are steadily progressing towards its implementation. Of course, it is impossible to resolve issues that have built up over decades in just a month or a year. However, there is already a clear understanding of what each of us must do – the government, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Members of Parliament, regional state administrations, communities, and active public organizations. And there are results.

I will provide just one example of the community's conscious approach to addressing these issues. Not long ago, due to an illegally constructed dam, the flow of the Fosa River into the Ros River was completely blocked. As a result, the river level was extremely low, the water had an unpleasant odor, and there was noticeable "water blooming." Currently, the illegal hydraulic structure has been dismantled, restoring the unobstructed flow of water. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the violators.

Of course, there is still much work to be done, and this is just one specific example. Activities include conducting an inventory of hydraulic structures along the entire course of the Ros River, preparing for the demolition of abandoned structures, establishing additional water quality monitoring points, developing local plans for the restoration of the Ros River, demarcating the boundaries of riparian zones, and modernizing wastewater treatment management to European standards.

We discussed the most pressing issues with community representatives and clarified our steps. It was important for me to hear about the problems directly from the source to work together on reducing the regulation of the river and restoring its water flow.

Using the example of the Ros River, we are developing and implementing measures for restoring the river ecosystem, which will serve as a framework for preserving the rivers of Ukraine.