The status of land as a nature reserve, forest, or water fund in Ukraine is far from a guarantee that the territory will not fall into private hands for construction or agriculture. A significant proportion of crimes this week are related to the loss or misuse of land. And, of course, there was no shortage of forest destruction, in which officials were involved.
As usual, EcoPolitics has compiled a weekly digest of environmental violations for you. We obtained information for the period from February 14 to 20 from open sources – the Office of the Prosecutor General and its regional divisions, the State Bureau of Investigations, and the State Environmental Inspection.
Manipulation with valuable land
A hotel complex on forest fund land in Zakarpattia. The ultimate owner of the property is a member of parliament from the Opposition Platform — For Life party, and another member of parliament, albeit from the Zakarpattia Regional Council, through his negligence allowed the seizure of land worth UAH 150 million for development. The man is also the head of the Uzhhorod Forestry Department of the Carpathian Forest Office, a branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine." Precisely because he "turned a blind eye" to the crime, cottages, gazebos, a boiler room, and a sports ground appeared on the 8.5-hectare site. The official did not initiate any inspections and did not report the crime to either the management or the supervisory authorities. For this, he faces up to 5 years in prison.
Source: State Bureau of Investigation
A former deputy of the Volyn Regional Council transferred 10 hectares of water fund land into private ownership. The man, who currently heads one of the enterprises, organized an illegal scheme, registering the plots on paper to military personnel from the UBD. However, the former deputy himself became the ultimate owner. His accomplices were the then head of the State Geocadastre in Volyn region and a deputy of the district council. The state suffered losses amounting to over UAH 8.3 million. The State Bureau of Investigation sent the indictment to court..
Source: State Bureau of Investigation
Use of a reservoir without permits. The Letychiv community in the Khmelnytskyi region was returned 254 hectares of water resources, including the Novokostiantynivskyi reservoir. Prosecutors had previously established that a business entity was conducting fishing activities on the reservoir without the right to use it and without paying taxes to the budget.
The prosecutor's office also continues to fight for the return of protected lands that have ended up in communal or private ownership in various ways:
- Karmelyukove Pole National Park (Vinnytsia region). A 6-hectare plot of land was illegally leased to a farm. In accordance with a court decision, the territory was returned to state ownership.
- Nizhnesulsky National Park (Cherkasy region). A 52.5-hectare plot was illegally removed from state ownership, and later the local government leased it to an entrepreneur for agricultural use. Prosecutors filed a lawsuit.
- Nizhnedniprovsky National Park (Kherson region). The local State Geocadastre authority illegally changed the designated use of 2.2 hectares of protected land to agricultural use. These plots then became privately owned. The court upheld the prosecutor's claim and returned the land to the state.
- Dniester Canyon National Park (Ternopil region). Valuable land covering 3.3 hectares also suddenly became agricultural land, also due to a decision by the State Geocadastre. The court ruled that these actions were unlawful and decided to remove the land from communal ownership and return it to the state.
- Tsumanska Pushcha National Park (Volyn region). The situation here is similar. Plots of land belonging to the nature reserve fund, covering an area of 29 hectares and worth over three million hryvnias, became agricultural land without any justification. The Olytska City Council then leased these plots. Prosecutors are now trying to return the land to state ownership.
- Dykanka Landscape Park (Poltava region). Over 30 hectares of land with nature conservation status were leased for agricultural use. This decision was made back in 2012 by the Dykanka Village Council. As a result, valuable land was plowed up. Prosecutors have now obtained a court ruling requiring the land to be removed from agricultural use.
- Trakhtemyriv Landscape Park (Kyiv region). A 2-hectare plot worth UAH 72 million was transferred to private ownership under the guise of agricultural land. By court order, the land will be returned to communal ownership.
Source: Poltava Regional Prosecutor’s Office
Destruction of trees
Scheme for cutting down trees in the Capital Forest Office of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine." The organized group included three officials from the Bohun Forestry of the Korosten Forestry, as well as two private entrepreneurs. Following the instructions of one of the foresters, the forest was cut down and transported to private sawmills. In order to cover their tracks, they underestimated the cost of raw materials and issued fake invoices allegedly on behalf of citizens. The losses to the state-owned enterprise amounted to UAH 1.5 million. The investigation has been completed. The suspects face up to 12 years in prison.
Source: State Bureau of Investigation
Under the guise of clear-cutting, losses amounted to 9.4 million hryvnias. The scheme was organized by the chief forester and forester of the Koryukiv Forestry Enterprise in the Chernihiv region. They divided the area into small fragments of less than 1 hectare in order to avoid obtaining a conclusion from the environmental protection authorities. Then, they destroyed almost 4,500 trees in these areas, issuing illegal logging permits. The officials received notices of suspicion and could face up to 10 years in prison.
Three inspectors from the Nature Reserve Fund received notices of suspicion. Due to their improper performance of their duties, unidentified persons cut down trees in the Biloozersky National Park. The damage to the environment amounted to almost UAH 7 million.
A forest master in the Kirovohrad region was also charged with professional negligence. Due to his oversight, trees in a nature reserve worth almost UAH 5 million were destroyed.
Illegal use of subsoil resources
Illegal extraction of sand in Rivne region. The acting director of a building materials plant is under suspicion. The man, acting in collusion with others, organized the extraction of locally significant minerals—sand—on a leased plot of land. Of course, the enterprise had neither permits nor mining rights. The man could face up to six years in prison.
Source: Rivne Regional Prosecutor’s Office
You can read about crimes against the Ukrainian environment that came to light last week in the previous EcoPolitics digest.
