This week’s environmental offences were not significant on a national scale. However, every such incident represents a local blow or threat to nature. The felling of trees, environmental pollution and even the removal of valuable land from state ownership — all have their consequences. Often, these consequences are very long-lasting.
As the week drew to a close, EcoPolitic, as is its tradition, prepared a round-up for its readers of crimes against nature reported by the official authorities. The information covering the period from 11 to 17 July was obtained from public publications by the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional prosecutor’s offices, the State Bureau of Investigations, and the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine.
Forestry cases
Cleared a road through the forest — causing damage worth over 5 million hryvnias. The case of a former official from the Berehomet Forestry Division of the ‘Berehomet LMH’ branch of the state-owned enterprise ‘Forests of Ukraine’ has reached court. The former official decided, outside the enterprise’s plans, to construct a forest road, but the trees stood in the way. On his instructions, workers from a contractor carrying out thinning operations in the Vyzhnytskyi National Park also felled healthy trees — spruce, fir and beech. Although the man does not admit his guilt, his assets have been seized. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
In Volyn, illegal logging was discovered with damages exceeding UAH 5.2 million. This violation was recorded during an inspection by the environmental inspectorate in Bucin Forestry. During the survey, nearly 450 stumps of felled trees-pines and alders-were found. Law enforcement officers were called to the scene, and a criminal case was opened.
Source: State Environmental Inspectorate in the Volyn Region
Ownership of Valuable Lands
Establishing the boundaries of conservation sites is an important factor in their preservation. Without defined borders, there is a risk of improper use and no way to ensure proper protection. Therefore, prosecutors often try-through the courts-to have territory holders formalize the appropriate status or set boundaries. This was the case, in particular, with the nature monument “Urochysche ‘Lelia’” in Dnipropetrovsk region, which comprises 30 ha of valuable steppe. The court obliged the local township council and DSRF to take the necessary measures.
Valuable natural complexes are often transferred to municipal ownership as agricultural land or development sites.
- This happened as well to 16 ha of forest fund land in the Korostyshiv community in Zhytomyr region, due to an order from the regional unit of the State Geocadastre. The prosecution managed to return these lands to the state through a court ruling.
- The Tashansky village council in Kyiv region registered as its property as much as 385 ha of forest fund land. At the prosecutors’ request, the court returned this land to state ownership and canceled the unlawful registration.
- Prosecutors in Kirovohrad region returned over 36 ha of forest land to the state. Coincidentally, these areas had also been registered as agricultural land. This error occurred during inventorying back in 2018.
- In Zaporizhzhia region, 15 plots totaling 2.3 ha suddenly became designated as land for residential and public development, despite being under the management of Krutoyarivske forestry, State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine". There were tree stands up to 61 years old growing there, so the court sided with prosecutors and returned the land to state ownership.
Source: Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor's Office
Environmental Pollution
Damages of almost UAH 10 million due to fires at the Makuhi landfill. The Supreme Court confirmed the fact of air pollution as a result of fires at the landfill near Poltava. A lawsuit was filed against Poltava KATP-1628, which for a long time failed to correct violations of fire and technogenic safety requirements. This negligence was observed despite repeated orders from oversight authorities. During 2024 alone, there were 16 fires at the site.
Source: Poltava Regional Prosecutor's Office
Animal waste dump causing millions in environmental damages. In Rivne region, the case against the former head of a branch of one of the state enterprises has been referred to court. He organized systematic removal and burial of animal by-products in unauthorized locations, even though he was aware of environmental laws. As a result, the damages to nature exceeded UAH 1.4 million. At the same time, the official facilitated a shortfall of UAH 1.2 million for the enterprise by artificially lowering the cost of biowaste processing in contracts with entrepreneurs.
Source: Rivne Regional Prosecutor's Office
Wastewater discharged directly into the forest and the Vorskla River. The State Environmental Inspectorate of the Central District calculated the damages to nature caused by violations committed by a municipal enterprise of one of the village councils in Poltava region. Due to land and river water pollution, the damage amounted to over UAH 500,000. The materials have been sent to the prosecutor's office.
Source: State Environmental Inspectorate of the Central District
Leachate from a landfill poisoned community land in Chernivtsi region. The head of the municipal solid waste landfill operation site is accused of official negligence. The official was aware that the leachate collection and treatment system was not operational but did nothing about it. As a result, toxic waters contaminated the land, causing damages of almost UAH 800,000.
Crimes Related to Animals
Бraconniers killed a young elk. Gamekeepers in Chernihiv region reported to environmental inspectors about the illegal hunting of a wild animal that is also listed in the Red Book. After going to the site, officials found that two individuals had killed the calf not just anywhere, but on the territory of a reserve – the Mizhrichynskyi National Nature Park. Law enforcement officers are currently considering opening a criminal case.
Source: State Environmental Inspectorate in Chernihiv region
You can learn about last week’s environmental violations here.
