Due to the machinations of lawmakers and the “mistakes” of local councils, valuable areas are threatened by development. Forests continue to be destroyed due to negligence and abuse of authority. Subsurface resources are being exploited without permits and with complete disregard for environmental restrictions. In short, it’s the classic set of tools used to destroy Ukraine’s environment.
EcoPolitic reports on the main environmental violations that came to light between April 4 and 10. The data was obtained from open sources—the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional prosecutor’s offices, the State Bureau of Investigations, and the State Environmental Inspection.
The battle for valuable land
In Dnipro, there are plans to develop 3.4 hectares of a water protection zone. The land on the peninsula, valued at 170 million UAH, has suddenly been deemed suitable for residential and public development. This decision was approved by the Dnipro City Council, and prosecutors are attempting to overturn it in court. The land is subject to environmental restrictions and has complex floodplain soils. Construction here could disrupt the water balance and degrade water quality in the Dnipro River.
Over 40 ha of protected land in "Koncha-Zaspa" in Kyiv, worth UAH 595 million, were appropriated by a former member of parliament from the now-banned Party of Regions. He was aided by the former head of the Obukhiv District State Administration and the head of one of the divisions of the local State Land Committee. More details about this crime can be found in a separate Ecopolitic's article.
Nearly 1,600 ha of primeval forests in Ivano-Frankivsk region are under threat due to the inaction of SE "Forests of Ukraine". Since 2023, when the state enterprise received 15 relic sites for protection, it has failed to establish their boundaries or install markers on-site. Therefore, prosecutors are demanding that this be done through the courts. Ecopolitics previously reported more thoroughly on the issue.
The court is requiring the Kryvyi Rih City Council to establish the boundaries of the "Balka Pivnichna Chervona" landscape reserve of national importance. This area, covering 28 ha, features unique oak-valley forests and mixed-feather grass steppes. Without clearly defined borders, the reserve is at risk of encroachment and environmental degradation.
Source: Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office
In Cherkasy region, a similar case has reached the stage of practical court-ordered enforcement. The boundaries of the "Medova Dolyna" reserve, with an area of 50 ha, have been entered into the State Register.
У Києві суд постановив demolish an illegally constructed recreation complex on the banks of the Dnipro River. The building is located within the shoreline strip and includes coastal reinforcement structures that belong to the state. The illegal registration of ownership rights has also been annulled.
The status of 40 ha of self-forested land in Chernivtsi region remains undetermined. The inactivity of the Krasnoyilsk Village Council, which still has not decided whether to transfer the new forests to the relevant authority, threatens their transfer to private ownership and subsequent logging. Therefore, the prosecutor’s office filed a court case, and the village council is now obliged to bring the issue up at a session.
The Supreme Court ruled to return 18 ha of water fund land on the banks of the Kaniv Reservoir to the state. This territory was illegally privatized, ostensibly due to the existence of real estate objects but, in reality, for planned development.
Chernihiv’s “Krekhaiv Floodplain Meadows” have lacked protected status for over 30 years. The floodplain meadows along the Desna River with unique vegetation are at risk of alienation, so prosecutors, through the court, demand that the Chernihiv Regional State Administration consider granting protected status to this area.
Forests and timber
In the regional landscape park “Zahrebellya” in Ternopil region, nearly 250 trees were illegally felled with damages totaling more than UAH 8.2 million. The crime was initiated by the head of one of the local territorial communities, who personally ordered municipal workers to clear the area and provided transport and equipment. The man has been notified of suspicion and faces up to 12 years in prison.
Outside the village of Ploska in Chernivtsi region, unidentified individuals illegally logged trees causing colossal damages of UAH 27.1 million. The State Environmental Inspectorate (SEI) carried out the necessary calculations and transferred the case materials to the prosecutor’s office.
In the territory of the Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park, more than 130 trees were illegally cut down with damages amounting to nearly UAH 11.5 million. The State Environmental Inspectorate has filed a claim against Kosiv RPE “Raiagrolis” for these losses.
For abuse of office, the former head of SE “Lymanske Forestry Enterprise”, which is part of the “Forests of Ukraine” state enterprise in Donetsk region, will be prosecuted. He purchased 3,000 m³ of timber at significantly inflated prices. Due to this unequal deal with a private company, the state lost UAH 1.6 million.
Due to the negligence of the chief forester of one of the agri-forestry enterprises in Sumy region, the environment suffered damages amounting to more than UAH 2.6 million. The official failed to organize proper protection for the forest area, leading to the illegal felling of more than 130 trees. The man has been notified of suspicion.
Також через недбалість лісівників the Vyshnivetskyi Forestry in Ternopil region was affected. Its employees failed to provide proper forest protection, resulting in the destruction of trees worth more than UAH 4.7 million. Prosecutors are suing the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" for compensation of damages.
For illegal logging, four residents of the Zaporizhzhia district will stand trial. Together, they destroyed almost 170 trees, causing losses of over UAH 2 million.
Environmental pollution
Winemaking waste – dumped directly into the soil. In Odesa region, a local winery discharged untreated wastewater and production waste via the sewage system onto municipal land in the city of Tatarbunary. The director of the enterprise was charged, as he decided to save money by not properly equipping treatment facilities. The environmental damage amounted to over UAH 12.5 million.
In Svaliava, Zakarpattia region, pollution of more than 2,700 m2 was detected. Land not intended for waste storage has now been contaminated with harmful chemical compounds. In particular, elevated levels of chlorides and ammonium nitrogen were recorded. The head of the local public utility enterprise is suspected of committing the crime. Environmental losses amounted to half a million hryvnias.
Source: Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office
Illegal use of mineral resources
Instead of creating a soil reserve, a private company from Poltava region illegally extracted over 13,000 m3 of sand. According to law enforcement, the company director was the scheme’s organizer. Losses from illegal mineral extraction exceeded UAH 10 million.
Source: Poltava Regional Prosecutor's Office
In Ternopil region, the director of a local enterprise organized illegal clay extraction. Notably, the company produces bricks. Overall, more than 2,000 m3 of raw materials were stolen from subsurface resources, causing damage of over UAH 1.7 million. For more details about this crime, read the article by EcoPolitica.
You can find out about last week’s environmental crimes at this link.
