On August 29, 2026, Dmytro Nikulin—Chairman of the Board of the “Carpathian Sea of ​​Freedom” NGO and Director of Balford Ukraine—participated in the Lviv Invest Forum.

During the event, he invited representatives from territorial communities, Lviv region businesses, Ukrainian and foreign investors, international organizations, and partners to attend the “Carpathian Sea of ​​Freedom” forum, scheduled for April 6–8, 2027.

At the Lviv Invest Forum, Dmytro Nikulin also presented a key project promoted by the “Carpathian Sea of ​​Freedom” NGO: the construction of a hydropower cascade with a total capacity of 38 MW in the village of Dovhe Hirske, located within the Skhidnytsia territorial community of the Lviv region.

Judges awarded the hydropower cascade project first place in the “Sharks of Business” investment project competition.

“For us, this is incredibly important news and a recognition of the entire team’s work. Taking first place confirms that this project is relevant and essential for both the region and Ukraine. We realize that building a hydropower cascade is more complex than implementing solar or wind energy projects. At the same time, it holds strategic importance for the Skhidnytsia community, the Lviv region, and the entire country,” noted Dmytro Nikulin.

The project has the potential to significantly impact regional development, create new jobs, attract investment, increase local budget revenues, and help strengthen Ukraine’s energy capacity. A distinct aspect of the initiative will be the development of a recreational zone around the reservoir, the promotion of tourism, and the creation of new opportunities for local businesses.

The project is commissioned by Balford Ukraine, a company currently building partnerships with the Skhidnytsia territorial community, investors, and other stakeholders to bring the project to fruition.

The “Carpathian Sea of ​​Freedom” NGO invites Ukrainian and international investors, entrepreneurs, community representatives, and partner organizations to participate in both the development of the hydroelectric power plant cascade and the recreational area, as well as in broader cooperation between Carpathian communities and communities across Ukraine.