To what extent this is rational and whether the State Forestry Agency had planned such work at all is the subject of an investigation by the news agency "Vchasno."
Billions in losses due to aggression
The forests of Donetsk Oblast have been suffering from Russian aggression since 2014. Since then, the total losses have already exceeded 4.3 billion UAH. This information was provided to Vchasno journalists by the Southeast Interregional Directorate of Forestry and Hunting of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine.
Since 2022, the situation has only worsened. Fires, landmines, and deforestation by the occupiers—in total, 133,000 hectares of the region’s forest resources have been affected by the war. 87,400 hectares remain under temporary Russian occupation.
Contamination with explosive ordnance presents a particular threat. This risk potentially affects 50,800 ha of forests, including virtually all the territory of the Sloviansk and Lyman forestry enterprises.
The eco-inspectors’ assessment is higher
The nature reserve fund of the region has incurred losses amounting to over UAH 2.5 trillion. These dramatically higher figures were published by the State Environmental Inspectorate.
This includes the Sviati Hory National Park. As a result of large-scale fires in 2023–2024, losses for this protected area amounted to almost UAH 1.3 trillion. Of that, UAH 410 billion were attributed to the losses from destroyed forests.
Journalists emphasize that differing methodologies account for the variance in estimates. While the State Forest Resources Agency calculates direct losses from destroyed timber or infrastructure, the Environmental Inspectorate evaluates damages comprehensively-including ecosystem destruction, pollution, and harm to biodiversity.
The most damaging threats to Donetsk forests
Above all, the forests of Donetsk region are being destroyed by fire, causing losses of nearly UAH 4.2 billion. According to the State Forest Resources Agency, during the full-scale war, there were 317 recorded forest fires, affecting almost 5,300 ha of territory.
Source: State Forest Resources Agency
However, even under these circumstances, illegal logging remains widespread in the region. Journalists found reports of 27 incidents in which over 2,400 m3 of timber were destroyed or damaged, resulting in losses exceeding UAH 124 million.
For example, due to collusion by former officials of the Sloviansk Forestry State Enterprise, 50 ha of forest plantations were destroyed. As EcoPolitica previously reported in detail, the scheme was organized by the acting director of the forestry enterprise. Without an actual inspection, the trees were assigned a condition requiring sanitary felling. The resulting losses to the state then amounted to UAH 14.6 million.
Водночас великі площі так і залишаються замінованими. Серед земель лісогосподарського призначення наразі очистили від мін та снарядів лише близько 1,7 тис. га.
The situation in forestry enterprises is far from ideal
Since 2014, six forestry enterprises have fallen under enemy control, while others ceased operations due to active hostilities and destruction of infrastructure. In particular, the Pokrovsky forestry enterprise discontinued its activities. The Chasiv-Yar and Yampil forestries found themselves within active combat zones.
As of 2024, only three forestry enterprises – Lyman, Slovyansk, and Velykoanadol – are still operating de facto in Ukraine-controlled territory. Legally, they are no longer separate entities and have been integrated into the structure of the Donetsk Supra-forestry Branch of the "Eastern Forest Office" subdivision of the state-owned company "Forests of Ukraine".
New forests in spite of objective obstacles
It would seem that now is not the right time for forest restoration. However, according to the state initiative “Green Country”, nearly 180 ha of new forests have been planted in the Donetsk region during 2023–2025.
The first to begin this work after de-occupation was the Lyman forestry enterprise, which cleared mined areas beforehand. Initially, 9,000 seedlings were planted over 3 ha, and then 28,000 plants were planted on nearly 10 ha.
"Vchasno" provides a few more examples:
- In “Sviati Hory” (Holy Mountains), 4,000 pine seedlings were planted in the spring of 2024. The planting site was near the front line, and workers could even hear military equipment in action.
- The Slovyansk forestry enterprise was actively preparing for the spring reforestation campaign in 2024.
Source: SE "Lyman Forest Enterprise". Collage: "Vchasno"
Work continues, contracts are awarded
Despite shelling and landmines, sanitary clearings, timber harvesting, and forest stand surveys are being carried out in Donetsk region.
Journalists analyzed procurement records during the full-scale war and reported on the main contractors performing the work and the amounts they received from forestry enterprises in the front-line region.
The Slovyansk forestry enterprise allocated more than UAH 8.1 million in budget funds for forestry operations. The largest contract, worth UAH 5 million, went to the sole proprietor Dmytro Sadovyi; another UAH 1.7 million in contracts went to the sole proprietor Sydych. Almost all forest pathological surveys are conducted by the state specialized enterprise "Kharkivlisozakhyst". The enterprise also spent UAH 1 million on planting stock.
The Lyman forestry enterprise closely cooperates in timber harvesting with sole proprietor Ihor Trekhlieb. Over the entire period, he has been paid UAH 33 million in budget funds, including nearly UAH 15 million during the full-scale war.
The "Sviati Hory" National Park also paid UAH 0.9 million to the private company “VP Lisozahotivelnyk,” which is owned by Ihor Trekhlieb.
Altogether, just these few institutions spent at least UAH 28 million on timber harvesting, sanitary clearings, surveys, and partial restoration of forest stands. Journalists believe this figure is very approximate and likely underestimated.
Restoration without a plan
"Vchasno" sought to find out whether there is any actual restoration plan for the forests of Donetsk region. The regional military administration redirected the journalists to the regional branch of the State Forest Agency.
Відповідь була парадоксальною – after February 24, 2022, no forest restoration programs have been approved. There is not even a risk assessment for planting or information about budget expenditures. In other words, it is completely unclear what guided forestry enterprises in allocating funds, paying for contracts, and planting forests.
“Forest restoration in Donetsk region today does not look like a well-thought-out state policy, but rather a set of fragmented actions. And as long as officials cannot explain how they see the future of these forests in a frontline region, where the line of combat constantly shifts, the question ‘for whom and for what purpose are they being restored right now’ remains open,” media report.
EcoPolitic previously reported that in Zakarpattia region, a forest will be cleared to lay a power transmission line to a wind power station.
Wildfires in ecosystems have also become much more frequent now. Since the beginning of the year alone, over 2,000 fires have been recorded, affecting an area of more than 93,000 ha. EcoPolitica reminded about the ban on burning dry vegetation and the fines for this offense.
