- Головна/
- Publications/
- Forest visiting rules: autumn 2025
Forest visiting rules: autumn 2025
Isn’t it true that with the beginning of autumn, there’s an urge to head into the forest: to pick mushrooms and berries, or simply to spend some time in nature before winter comes? However, since the start of the full-scale invasion, forest areas remain inaccessible to residents of most regions of Ukraine due to martial law and related dangers. Let’s find out whether forests in your region are open for visits, and what restrictions apply.
Experts from NGO ForestCom have investigated whether there have been changes in forest visitation rules across different regions this year compared to previous years.
Sources used in preparing this material: official requests to regional military administrations.
Forest Visits Allowed
Forest visits are permitted in Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, and — with some minor exceptions — Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions.
However, residents of these regions should remember about periods of high fire risk (when fire hazard is at level 4 or higher), during which vehicle access (except on transit roads) is restricted, or a complete ban on forest visits is enforced.
-
In Chernivtsi region, despite the absence of a formal ban, tourist sites located within 5 km of the border zone may only be visited with permission from border guards.
-
According to the Ternopil Regional Military Administration, in Ternopil region “there is no list of forests prohibited for visitation during martial law.” However, the public is banned from visiting forests on foot or by vehicle during periods of high fire hazard.
-
Residents and visitors of communities in Ivano-Frankivsk region bordering the state border — particularly villages in the border strip within the Zelenska and Biloberizka rural councils of Verkhovyna district — must remember about temporary restrictions and the ban on recreation in border areas. The ban also applies during periods of high fire risk.
-
In Lviv region, while there is no permanent ban on forest visits, a complete ban applies during periods of fire hazard. Additionally, according to Mostyska City Council, visits to forests in Yavoriv district are prohibited.
Forest Visits Allowed Under Certain Conditions
Permission to visit is granted in a number of regions under specific rules, some of which are mentioned above.
-
In Rivne region, despite a general ban on visiting forests, foresters have arranged 125 designated recreation areas (announced last year) across the region where people can safely rest. Gathering wild forest products (mushrooms, berries, medicinal herbs) is permitted, except in six border communities (Loknytska, Zarichnenska, Vysotska, Myliatska, Starosilska, and Berezivska), where parts of forests remain mined.
-
Similar restrictions apply in Volyn region, where warning signs mark mined areas. It is strictly forbidden to leave forest roads, dismantle or cross artificial log barriers. Forest visits for gathering mushrooms, berries, etc. are completely banned in Zabolotivska and Samarivska communities (Kovel district) and partly banned in Shatska, Dubechnenska, Ratnivska, and Zabrodivska communities (Kovel district). Restrictions also apply in Kamin-Kashyrska and Liubeshivska communities within 5 km of the Belarusian border.
-
In Khmelnytskyi region, visiting forests is not prohibited, but there are restrictions: making campfires is banned, as is the entry of any vehicles except bicycles.
Partial Restrictions in Border Regions
Residents of border regions — Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Lviv, Volyn, Rivne, and Zhytomyr — must remember that forest visits in border zones are prohibited. Many of these areas, especially those bordering Belarus, are mined, making entry not only illegal but extremely dangerous.
-
In Zhytomyr region, visiting forests is allowed except:
-
within 30 km of the Belarusian border;
-
in areas previously under occupation (villages Radcha, Nova Radcha, Stara Radcha, Hrezlia, Davydky, Tychkiv, Vilkhova, Rovba, Rubezhivka, under Narodychi Council of Korosten district);
-
hunting is banned during martial law, except for biotechnical and protective measures carried out by licensed hunting grounds users.
-
Similar restrictions apply in Zakarpattia region, where forests are generally open, but some tourist routes remain closed (parts of Uzhanskyi National Park and the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve along state borders). Measures to prevent wildfires during martial law also apply, banning vehicle entry (except transit roads) and some tourist routes, such as:
-
“Zakarpattia Tourist Trail” (Ubla / Malyi Bereznyi – Velykyi Bereznyi – Yavirnyk – Sil – Knyahynia – Stuzhytsia – Zahorb – Cheremkha – Lubnia – Plishka – Verkhovyna-Bystra – Uzhotskyi Pass; Stih – Mezhypotoki – Pip Ivan; Marmarosy – Lysychia – Dilove);
-
“Dilove – Pip Ivan” trail in Trybushanske division of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve;
-
“Yalynskyi Waterfall” trail;
-
“Mineral Spring in Holovach” (Maramures division of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve);
-
Stuzhytsia – Primeval Forests – Kremenets route in Uzhanskyi National Park;
-
Bystry – Forest Hut – Border Monument in Uzhanskyi National Park;
-
Stuzhytsia – Mount Kremenets trail in Uzhanskyi National Park.
Forest Visits Prohibited
According to regional military administration decisions, forests are closed in 13 regions: Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv. The ban applies to pedestrians and all types of vehicles. Exceptions include the Armed Forces, other military formations, permanent forest users, and government representatives, as well as use of transit roads. In Kherson region, the ban also applies to shelterbelts.
In Donetsk region, the ban is in force except for households gathering firewood for domestic needs, as per Cabinet Resolution No. 861 of July 30, 2024. The same exception applies to vehicles transporting such firewood.
In Kyiv city and Kyiv region, visiting forests and green zones outside residential areas is strictly prohibited.
Occupied territories remain off-limits: Crimea, and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. According to the State Emergency Service, mine risks in de-occupied forests remain high.
Fire Hazard Restrictions
During periods of high fire hazard (levels IV–V), visiting forests and driving into forest areas (except public roads) is banned, as is making campfires outside designated recreation areas.
This restriction applies to Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Rivne regions.
Due to high temperatures and lack of rainfall, the fire hazard will reach the highest level. Human negligence remains the primary cause of forest fires.
Please consider all bans and restrictions when planning your autumn trips.
Stay safe!