The most high-profile environmental violations this week are linked to criminal activities by officials in the forestry sector. Document fraud has enabled them to fell thousands of trees, causing losses of over 100 million hryvnias. Meanwhile, poachers are not far behind, and prosecutors, as before, are trying to protect nature reserve sites.
EcoPolitic has prepared its traditional digest of crimes against Ukraine’s natural environment for its readers. Information for the period from 30 May to 5 June was obtained from open sources — publications by the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional prosecutor’s offices, the State Bureau of Investigations, and the State Environmental Inspection.
Deforestation
More than UAH 112 million in damages due to tree destruction. Two officials from one of the municipal forestry enterprises under the Lviv Regional Council have been charged with illegal logging with grave consequences. The chief forester was involved in clearing over 20,000 trees, resulting in losses of more than UAH 105 million. The crime was facilitated by issuing 48 logging permits for "selective thinning." The forest management engineer, acting as chief forester at the time, issued two similar documents, which led to the destruction of over an additional 1,300 trees. The resulting damages exceed UAH 7.3 million. The officials could face up to seven years in prison.
Source: State Bureau of Investigation
Three forestry officials from the Kherson region will be prosecuted for abuse of authority and large-scale illegal logging. Officials from the “Velykokopanivske Forestry and Hunting Enterprise” and the Southern Interregional Department of Forestry and Hunting organized a timber harvesting scheme that caused losses of nearly UAH 8 million. A plot of 3.5 hectares was divided on paper into smaller parcels to avoid the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment. Such manipulations resulted in illegal destruction of more than 2,200 trees.
In Zhytomyr region, illegal logging was prevented. There, almost 200 pine trees were prepared to be cut, which would have caused damages of over UAH 2.7 million. The failed scheme was being planned by employees of one of the local forest hunting branch enterprises, which is part of the “Forests of Ukraine” state enterprise, as well as a company involved in forest protection. The State Bureau of Investigation is currently working to clarify all the circumstances.
Source: State Bureau of Investigation
The state-owned enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" has reimbursed the Dubrovytsia City Council 4.6 million hryvnias for losses caused by illegal logging. The enterprise, which manages the Svaritsevychi Forest District, failed to ensure adequate protection of the forest. As a result of this negligence, unknown individuals felled over 60 trees. Read more about the systematic negligence of "Forests of Ukraine" and the fines running into millions in a separate article by EcoPolitic.
Striy City Council will still be required to pay 3 million UAH in damages caused by illegal tree felling. As the community is the administrator of the territory, in the absence of a specific perpetrator, it must compensate for the environmental damage caused. In Stryi, officials disagreed with this and appealed the decision of the trial court, but the appellate court also ruled in favor of the prosecutors.
Protection of valuable lands
The lands of the landscape reserve “Dolina Richky Byk” will finally be returned to state ownership. This decision was made by the appellate court, even though the farmer–lessee tried to challenge the previous court ruling. Back in 2015, 140 ha of protected land worth 15 million UAH was unlawfully leased out. The entrepreneur used it for agricultural purposes.
Another positive ruling has been issued regarding 10 ha of forest land in Zhytomyr region. There, a “classic” situation occurred – the regional branch of the StateGeoCadastre transferred the land to Luhynska village council, which then issued it for lease as agricultural land.
In Lviv region, 80 ha of the geological nature monument “Vidslonennya Tortonskykh Piskovykiv” (Torton Sandstone Exposures) finally received defined boundaries. This was only achieved after the prosecutor’s office sued the community and the court rendered the appropriate decision. The absence of clearly defined boundaries for the site – is not just a bureaucratic shortcoming, but also poses a direct threat of improper use of protected areas.
Source: Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office
With regard to the park–monument “Sosnovyi Lis” in Cherkasy region, the situation remains unresolved. The prosecutor’s office recently reported that it has taken the Talnivska community to court for inaction. The protected lands, with an area of 21 ha, still lack boundaries and the required status in the State Land Cadastre.
The “Krekhaivski Meadows” in Chernihiv region have not received this status for over 30 years. This unique area, covering 200 ha, is essentially unprotected against changes in designated use and the risk of improper exploitation. Only in May 2026, by court ruling, was it recognized that Chernihiv Regional State Administration had been inactive. This forms the basis for creating a Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) site.
Environmental pollution
Сaused oil product contamination of more than 1,600 m2 of municipal land. An indictment has been submitted to court against a 59-year-old operator of one of the oil industry enterprises in Lviv region. The man was responsible for monitoring the technical condition of the equipment, but operational rules were violated, and hazardous substances entered the surrounding areas.
Source: Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office
Poaching
Caught crayfish worth over UAH 2 million. In the Mykolaiv region, violators who hunted crayfish at night with flashlights and scuba equipment were caught red-handed. In total, 615 animals were caught. We remind you that there is currently a ban on crayfish fishing in Ukraine until June 30.
Source: State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-West District
Caught illegal fish worth more than UAH 2.1 million. In the Kirovohrad region, a man will be tried in court for catching over 1,300 fish in the "Dovge Lake" bay using five nets. The crime took place back in September 2024. Whether the poacher will be convicted for illegal fishing – is currently unknown.
In addition, a repeat poacher was caught again in Kirovohrad region. The man was fishing with banned nets in the "Svitlovodskyi" landscape park. While the catch was profitable for the man, – it meant losses to aquatic bioresources of more than UAH 1 million. Prosecutors are demanding damages from the fisherman through the courts.
A digest of last week's environmental offenses can be found at this link.
