The ecological condition of various regions of Ukraine is a topical issue. In 1996-1997, based at the National Teacher Training University, a study looked at common soil invertebrates as potential indicators of the condition of deciduous forests near Kiev. Four forests were examined: Holosiiv, Irpin', Darnytsia and forest near Lysa Hora. Microbiomass in soil samples was studied by the method of limit dilution; and the biomass of soil invertebrates by xerotaxis (Dylis & Sukachov, 1966). The highest level of microbiomass (colonies vanishing at a dilution 1: 10000000) was found in samples collected in Darnytsia forest, while the biomass of soil invertebrates there was lowest (1000 individuals per cubic meter), indicative of the bad ecological conditions in this forest. The forest near Lysa Hora was in the middle: colonies of soil micro-organisms disappeared at a dilution of 1: 100000, while about 3000 individual invertebrates were found in 1 cubic.meter of soil, using a method of extrapolation. The ecological condition of this area is also bad. Holosiiv forest was much better: micro-organisms were less abundant, with colonies vanishing at a dilution of 1: 1000), and the number of soil invertebrates was about 10000 in 1 cubic meter. The best situation was found in the forest near Irpin'. Colonies of micro-organisms were not observed at a dilution of 1:10000, while numbers of the rather diverse invertebrates were about 14000 individuals per cubic.meter. Insects of the families Carabidae and Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) were found to be good indicators of the ecological situation. Some species of Carabus and Calosoma were observed in Irpin' and Holosiiv (better conditions), becoming less abundant, and eventually vanishing in the sequence Irpin' - Holosiiv - Lysa Hora- Darnytsia. At the same time some Elateridae became more abundant. Further extended research is planned, including analysis of the chemical composition and radiopollution of the soil and identification of microorganisms.