Illegal furnaces for burning coal were discovered in the Rivne region

Illegal furnaces for burning coal were discovered in the Rivne region
Katerina Belousova

The police opened criminal proceedings for air pollution

In Rivne region, near Berezne, law enforcement officers found 12 metal barrels for charcoal burning during preventive measures to combat environmental crimes.

The owner of two of the stoves did not provide any documents confirming the legality of such activities, and information about the other 10 is being checked, the Rivne Oblast Police press service reports.

It is noted that law enforcement officers arrived at the tract around 20:30. At that time, all 12 pyrolysis furnaces were working. There were more than 50 cubic meters of wood near them.

"As part of the criminal proceedings initiated under the preliminary legal qualification of part 1 of Article 241 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (atmospheric air pollution), the legality of economic activity is established," the report says.

The press service emphasized that law enforcement officers will continue to carry out preventive measures in the field of combating environmental crimes.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in Khmelnytskyi region, an entrepreneur from Letychev was notified of suspicion of pollution, spoilage and unmanaged land use due to production of charcoal. The entrepreneur arbitrarily occupied land intended for commercial agricultural production and started the operation of 11 pyrolysis furnaces.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, in 2021 in the Kupyan district of the Kharkiv region, law enforcement officers discovered an illegal manufacture of charcoal.

Related
What is the air quality like in Odesa this morning following the shelling on March 19?
What is the air quality like in Odesa this morning following the shelling on March 19?

The air is cleanest on Gretska Street, and the most polluted on Frantsuzky Boulevard

How safe is the air in Ukraine's regional capitals?
How safe is the air in Ukraine's regional capitals?

The situation varies greatly across the country, and air quality isn't the worst in cities with populations of over a million

Environmental pollution exacerbates depression and anxiety – EEA
Environmental pollution exacerbates depression and anxiety – EEA

A clean environment and physical activity are important for normalizing health

Air monitoring according to European standards: the first indicative sensor has been launched in Lviv region
Air monitoring according to European standards: the first indicative sensor has been launched in Lviv region

The Ministry of Economy calls this a step towards developing a modern monitoring system in line with EU rules