EcoPolitic has collected the most damaging cases of environmental damage over the last week from August 30 to September 5. The sources of information were the State Environmental Inspectorate (SEI) and its subdivisions, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the press services of prosecutors' offices in different regions.
1) Century-old trees were cut down in Kirovohrad region with losses of over UAH 4 million.
In Kirovohrad region, on the territory of the Holovaniv Forestry, an official of the forestry enterprise issued illegal permits to cut down centuries-old trees worth more than UAH 4 million.
According to the investigation, the official began issuing felling tickets to artificially increase the performance of the work plan and increase profitability. Over the course of a year, the defendant authorized the felling of almost six hundred trees (oaks, maples, hornbeams, ash, linden).
Photo: t.me/DBRgovua
Cutting down centuries-old trees without a clear justification is prohibited by law. The official is accused under Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal logging) and Part 3 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power).
The sanctioning articles provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for committing such crimes. Specialists are taking measures to recover compensation from the official for the damage caused to the state.
2) The largest scheme of illegal felling of trees in Donetsk region in recent times with losses of over UAH 14 million.
In Donetsk region, law enforcement officers recorded deforestation worth more than UAH 14 million with forged documents.
According to the investigation, the former acting director of the Slavic Forestry State Enterprise, together with her subordinates and an employee of the Kharkiv Forestry Enterprise, organized a large-scale scheme to cut down trees under the guise of "sanitary felling."
But in reality, no sanitary inspections took place, and the official only issued felling tickets. This led to the felling of more than 1800 trees on an area of more than 50 hectares.
They face punishment under Part 4 of Art. 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal deforestation) with up to 10 years in prison.
3) The Kyiv Fisheries Patrol detained a poacher who had caught fish worth more than UAH 1 million.
Inspectors of the Kyiv Fisheries Patrol exposed a fish marauder on the Hnyla Orzhytsia River who caught fish worth over UAH 1 million.
According to the experts, the inspectors saw a man entering the water on a boat with nine lifting traps at once. Thus, he was catching fish en masse.
Photo: darg.gov.ua
After the inspection, fisheries conservationists counted more than 700 crucian carp and silver carp in the poachers' catch. The inspectors emphasize that this is a huge loss for the ecosystem, as such a number of fish could restore the population, but these fish were caught in poachers' nets.
Law enforcement officers are drawing up a report of violation and preparing materials for a criminal case. All the caught fish and fishing gear will be seized.
4) Illegal felling of trees worth more than UAH 3 million was exposed in Ternopil region.
In Ternopil region, six people accused of illegal felling of trees with losses of more than UAH 3 million will be tried.
A spokeswoman for the Ternopil Prosecutor's Office says that a local resident organized an illegal business selling oak wood. He also involved several of his acquaintances in the business.
“They cut the trees into logs and transported them to a prearranged location on the premises of one of the enterprises of the Kozova territorial community. There, the wood was sawn, sorted, and stored to be sold later,” the regional prosecutor’s spokesperson said.
Photo: tp.npu.gov.ua
Experts confirmed the fact of tree felling, so the defendants face punishment under Part 3 of Article 28 (criminal violation committed by a group of persons) and Part 4 of Article 246 (illegal deforestation).
5) In Kyiv region, felling of trees worth more than UAH 1 million was exposed.
In Kyiv region, an engineer of the Dymerske Forestry branch of the State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine issued a logging ticket for felling trees in Katyuzhansky forestry. Law enforcement officers recognized the actions as illegal.
Photo: kobl.gp.gov.ua/ua
Due to the official's actions, the defendants cut down more than 130 pine trees. The engineer was suspected under Part 2 of Art. 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official negligence). According to experts, he may face serious liability, as it was large-scale felling.
As EcoPolitic noted earlier, in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, the director of the enterprise is accused of cutting down more than a thousand trees. The damage was estimated at UAH 77 million.
