Popravko has two higher education degrees: She is a chemical engineer and a lawyer. She specialises in environmental and civil law. Since 2002, she has been providing legal counselling to ERC Bellona and St. Petersburg residents on issues involving violations of environmental rights, as well as assisting in legal representation for citizens and non-governmental organisations in court. Popravko is head counsel on a number of high-profile cases, including the Municipality of Grazhdanka vs. Okhta Centre, which involves the highly-disputed construction of a skyscraper in the historical part of St. Petersburg, a project deemed to be in violation of the city’s zoning laws.