The EcoPolicy team has collected the most damaging cases of environmental damage over the past week, from September 13 to 19. The sources of information are the State Environmental Inspectorate (SEI) and its subdivisions, the Prosecutor General's Office, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the press services of prosecutors' offices in different regions.
1) Forestry in Kharkiv region suffered losses of over UAH 9 million
In Kharkiv region, three defendants were exposed for illegal deforestation, causing losses to the state of more than UAH 9 million.
- The head of the Zhovtneve Forestry branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" is accused of illegal logging, as the official entered into a number of timber supply agreements with a private company. One of the terms of the contract is a mandatory 100% prepayment for timber, but he failed to fulfill this condition, resulting in losses of UAH 5.5 million to the state.
Photo: khar.gp.gov.ua
The individual faces punishment under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of office that led to grave consequences).
- The forester of the Taraniv forestry failed to carry out state control of forestry, as was required by his official duties. Therefore, in May 2023, during sanitary felling on the territory of the forestry, he "did not see" illegal logging. Almost 300 healthy trees were removed from the forestry. The total environmental damage amounted to UAH 2.6 million.
He currently faces charges under Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official negligence resulting in serious consequences).
- In 2023, the forester of Chemuzhivske forestry, a branch of “Zmiivske Forestry” SE “Forests of Ukraine”, also accepted the handover of a forest section where trees worth nearly UAH 1 million were cut down.
The official is suspected under Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official negligence resulting in serious consequences).
2) As a result of criminal schemes at the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" in Lviv region, the environment suffered losses of UAH 52 million.
- Investigative actions are ongoing regarding former directors and acting officials of SE “Rava-Ruske Forestry” in Lviv region, who caused losses to the state of over UAH 66 million.
The former 2 directors and 2 acting directors illegally issued and signed logging tickets, allegedly for the purpose of rehabilitation and renewal of the forest on the territory of the forestry. In the period of 2022-2023, more than 3 thousand trees of different species were cut down due to the actions of the officials (former). The total environmental damage was estimated at over UAH 14 million.
- Additionally, five more officials from SE "Rava-Ruske Forestry" have been served with suspicion due to illegal issuance of logging tickets. During 2020–2023, the individuals organized unlawful logging of stands of various ages. The total damages to SE "Forests of Ukraine" in the Lviv region amounted to 52 million UAH.
3) In the Vinnytsia region, logging in a protected area caused losses to the state amounting to UAH 6 million.
In Vinnytsia region, law enforcement officers exposed two forest masters of the Dokhnya forestry of the Haisyn forestry of the Central Forest Office branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" who illegally cut down wood in the territory of the Karmeliukove Podillia National Nature Park.
Photo: facebook.com
After the deforestation, the defendants were engaged in illegal transportation and sale of timber. On September 17, the forest masters were served with a notice of suspicion, accused of deforestation by prior conspiracy of a group of persons, which caused grave consequences, under Article 246, paragraph 4, of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
4) A poacher in the Tuzly Estuaries caused almost UAH 1 million in environmental damage.
On September 15, inspectors detained the offender on Lake Burnas near the village of Lebedivka, Odesa region, while he was illegally fishing in the Tuzly Estuaries National Park.
Photo: 048.ua
The poacher used forest nets and caught 46 individuals of sharpnose mullet and two individuals of grass crab without any fishing permits. The damage to the National Park was estimated at UAH 875 thousand.
The violator faces punishment under Article 91 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (Violation of the rules for the use of territories and objects of the nature reserve fund).
Photo: 048.ua
5) Crimes at the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" in Zakarpattia caused environmental damage of almost UAH 28 million.
- According to the prosecutor's office, three senior forest masters of the Brusturyansky Forestry and Hunting Farm branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" entered incorrect data on the volume of timber allocated. Thus, they wanted to take possession of 640 cubic meters of wood by abuse of office (Part 3 of Article 15, Part 3, 4 of Article 191, Part 2 of Article 28, Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The environmental damage amounted to UAH 1.1 million.
- The forester of the Dragivske forestry of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" is suspected of negligence that led to the illegal felling of more than 100 trees (part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The damage amounted to UAH 1.6 million.
Photo: gp.gov.ua
- A deputy of the Zakarpattia Regional Council, together with the head of the subordinate forestry agency of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine," are suspected of organizing the illegal transportation and sale of 38 m³ of timber (part 4, article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Damages exceed 1 million UAH.
- A resident of Pidhirne village is suspected of setting fire to vegetation that destroyed 70 hectares of forest (part 2, article 245 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Damages are estimated at about 24 million UAH.
Photo: gp.gov.ua
As a reminder, nine officials in Prykarpattia were notified of suspicion over illegal tree felling with environmental damage of UAH 721 million.
The Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast uncovered large-scale violations in forest management. Due to the illegal actions of officials, valuable trees in the Carpathian region were destroyed, causing hundreds of millions of hryvnias in environmental damage.
We also recommend reading about three illegal deforestation schemes in Odesa region with a total amount of damage of over UAH 157 million.
Law enforcement officers have filed three criminal proceedings against 10 people involved in large-scale deforestation in Odesa region, including three employees of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine".
