The environment in Ukraine continues to suffer damage due to the criminal actions of officials, local authorities, and individuals. EcoPolitic has prepared a digest of crimes committed during the week of November 7-14. Information about violations comes from official sources: the State Bureau of Investigations, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and regional prosecutor's offices.
Illegal extraction of minerals
- Illegal extraction of 15,000 cubic meters of migmatite and environmental damage amounting to 43 million UAH. In the Kirovohrad region, within the boundaries of the Haivoron deposit, three employees of the enterprise carried out blasting operations and extracted minerals of national importance despite the suspension of their special permit. This was in 2019. Now, after an investigation, the Kirovohrad region's environmental prosecutor's office has sent an indictment to court. The "black miners" face up to 8 years in prison. One of them is hiding from the investigation abroad and is wanted by the authorities.
- More than 40 million UAH in damages due to illegal sand extraction in Lviv region. Here, a company operating in the Mykolaiv community decided to go a little beyond the limits. Without mining rights or permits, the company extracted 30,000 cubic meters of sand from forest land. The court of first instance only partially upheld the prosecutor's claim – for UAH 16 million. However, after an appeal, the court ordered the company to pay the full amount of damages.
Land crimes
- In Dnipro region, the prosecutor’s office returned 44 hectares of protected land to the state. A section of the Pryorilsky Landscape Reserve was strangely leased to an individual for agricultural use. This illegal order was issued by the State Geocadastre authorities. Following a lawsuit filed by the Samarivsky District Prosecutor's Office, the court returned these lands to the ownership of the reserve of national importance.
- In Khmelnytsky region, nearly 760 hectares of forest worth 6.7 million UAH are to be returned to state ownership. In 2020, the Krasyliv District Council transferred these areas to the Krasyliv Forestry and Municipal Services Enterprise, but subsequently these lands ended up in the communal ownership of the Antonivka Village Council. This created risks for the misuse of forests and their transfer to private ownership.
- A plot in the “Holosiivskyi” national park was acquired by an individual based on a Kyiv City Council decision that was cancelled 14 years ago. The value of this protected land is 8 million UAH. The prosecutor’s office has notified both the owner and the notary of suspicion. The notary's access to the State Register of Proprietary Rights has been blocked.
- Lands on the shore of the Kremenchuk Reservoir were returned to the community. A land parcel of about 4 hectares worth 1.3 million UAH was leased by the Svydivotska village council to a service cooperative. The lands on the Dnipro riverbank were to be developed with holiday cottages. The tenant managed to carry out land planning, which violated the hydrological regime of the shoreline.
- In Ternopil region, a local self-government body added 3 hectares of the "Dnistrovsky Canyon" National Park to the category of agricultural land. The Buchach District Prosecutor's Office managed to return the land to the state in time.
Forest matters
- Nearly one and a half hundred old trees were destroyed in Kyiv region due to the negligence of an engineer from one of the forestry enterprises of State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine". In 2023, a man failed to check the felling plan, permits, and age of the trees. As a result, valuable trees that had been growing for over 90 years were destroyed. The amount of material damage is 1.1 million hryvnias, and the employee faces up to five years in prison.
- In Lviv region, prosecutors won a court case demanding protected status for 45 hectares of forest in Sambir district. This refers to the Bagnovata natural monument, which is part of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" fund. Despite belonging to the reserve fund, the enterprise has not yet established the boundaries of the natural monument, which makes it impossible to protect it. A primeval beech forest grows here. The trees are between 100 and 165 years old.
- Other trees in Lviv region were not so fortunate. Giant oaks were felled in a national reserve. The diameter of their trunks was over 1 meter, and the damage to the state amounted to almost UAH 1 million. The unauthorized felling was allowed by the Radekhiv Forestry and Hunting Enterprise of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine." The court upheld the claim, and the damages to the Lopatyn community were compensated.
Photo: Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office
- There was illegal trade in state wood in Ternopil region. A forest master from one of the forestries of the Podilsk Forest Office of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" together with an entrepreneur organized the felling, transportation, and storage of firewood in the Kremenets district. They managed to destroy more than 600 trees and covered the felling sites with soil. The damage to the environment amounted to over UAH 4 million. The wood traders have been notified of the suspicion.
- In Chernivtsi region, State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" is required to reimburse 4 million UAH. Teams from the Berehomet Forestry and Hunting Branch of the State Enterprise illegally cut 2.7 hectares of forest under the guise of reforestation. Trees were also felled in strictly prohibited areas-on steep slopes where they hold the soil from sliding down.
The previous digest of environmental crimes is available at the link.
