The English version of the article have been published in the international edition of the journal: Maria A. Lysanova, Larisa N. Maskaeva, Vyatcheslav F. Markov. Application of metal oxides and sulfides as photocatalysts. Review. Butlerov Communications А. 2023. Vol.5. No.1. Id.1. DOI: 10.37952/ROI-jbc-А/23-5-1-1. A large number of scientific papers have been devoted to the study of photocatalytically active materials, which is associated with the urgency of the wastewater treatment problem and environmentally safe disposal of oxidized industrial waste from toxic substances of organic origin, as well as obtaining self-cleaning and self-disinfecting surfaces. The accumulated to date knowledge about photocatalytic oxidation is summarized in this review on the use of inorganic semiconductors (metal oxides and chalcogenides) as heterogeneous photocatalysts for the organic compounds decomposition. Semiconductor heterostructures creation, doping and formation of solid solutions based on binary oxide and chalcogenide compounds is an effective approach to increase the photocatalytic activity of catalysts. The review is focused on the formation mechanisms of active oxidative radicals under the light influence in presence of heterogeneous semiconductor catalysts. The catalysts are systematized by the range of absorbed UV and visible light. The review provides important information about the features of the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds, including herbicides, dyes, pesticides and phenolic compounds, etc. It is worth noting that due to the complexity, relevance and diversity of photocatalysis, as well as the published literature abundance, the proposed review does not claim to be exhaustive coverage of this scientific field. However, we have objectively reflected the achievements and problems with the various photocatalysts use, as well as made suggestions on the further direction of research of new catalysts and improvement of existing ones.