Shrewd profiteers – both among officials and ordinary citizens – have no qualms about destroying Ukraine’s natural environment for financial gain. Tree felling, extortion for environmental impact assessment reports, and environmental pollution – this week’s ‘range’ of offences is quite extensive.
As always, EcoPolitics has prepared a detailed round-up of this week’s environmental crimes for its readers. This covers the period from 8 to 14 August. The information for this article was obtained from reports published by the official sources of the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional prosecutor’s offices, the State Bureau of Investigations and the State Environmental Inspectorate.
Illegal extraction of minerals
A large-scale investigation into the illegal quarrying of granite is underway in the Kirovohrad region. The losses resulting from this crime are colossal – over 1.55 billion hryvnias. Recently, the Office of the Prosecutor General announced that it had identified and served notices of suspicion on a further seven individuals. Previously, an arbitration manager, who was supposed to oversee the liquidation of the mining company, was served with a notice of suspicion. In total, over 375,000 tonnes of granite, worth over 295 million hryvnias, were illegally extracted from the Sukhokliivskyi deposit.
Source: Office of the Prosecutor General
Sale of Expert Opinions
Two scientists prepared an environment-friendly EIA report for a businessman for almost UAH 1 million. The case concerns the establishment of a wind power plant in Cherkasy region. According to the investigation, the scientists demanded money from the businessman for preparing and revising specific sections of the report.
Forest Cases
Monthly kickbacks for logging. The case against the head of the "Kodymske Forestry" branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" and the former head of the "Baltske Forestry" branch has been sent to court. These officials forced 11 forest rangers to illegally cut down trees and hand over cash to top management. The monthly “tax” amounted to UAH 300,000. Subordinates committed crimes under threat of criminal prosecution. If foresters were not ready to participate in the scheme, an accomplice would pose as an eco-activist and file complaints about illegal logging with the State Bureau of Investigation.
Over UAH 5.7 million worth of trees destroyed. In Poltava region, charges have been brought against an organized group of “black lumberjacks” who systematically felled trees in forests and shelterbelts. A group of five local residents acted with the help of a local forester. After felling, the timber was sold to local residents.
Source: Poltava Regional Prosecutor’s Office
By tradition, due to the negligence of its employees in protecting forest areas, the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" pays millions in fines. Thus, for tree felling in the Svyadovytske forestry in Zakarpattia, by court decision, the state enterprise must compensate 4.5 million UAH. The trees were cut down back in 2023–2024, including in protected areas.
Source: Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office
Due to illegal logging on the territory of Uzhansky National Nature Park, the land user must pay 2.6 million UAH in damages. Despite appeals by the defendant, the decision remains in force.
Lanivtsi City Council in Ternopil region, despite all appeals, must also pay for damages resulting from illegal tree felling. The losses for the destruction of 113 plants exceed 1.8 million UAH. The authorities tried to overturn this decision through an appeal, but were unsuccessful.
Valuable lands
Due to natural afforestation of over 1,000 ha in the Berestyn region of Kharkiv oblast, young forests have formed. However, the local authorities refused to grant them special status. The appellate court declared this refusal illegal, so 233 plots must be classified as self-afforested with the appropriate status.
Source: Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office
Pollution, littering, and improper waste management
Hazardous medical waste stored in improper conditions. In one of the warehouses in Kyiv, rented by a specialized company, law enforcement officers found needles, ampoules, syringes, blades, and other specific items stored in unsuitable conditions. Plastic bags were used instead of sorting and special containers – according to the investigation, this method of storage creates a risk of spreading infectious diseases. The company was contracted to collect waste from municipal and private hospitals in the capital as well as to dispose of it. Prosecutors are currently verifying whether all obligations were actually fulfilled. A criminal case has been opened under the article on embezzlement of funds on a particularly large scale.
Source: Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office
A large-scale dump instead of garages. In Lviv oblast, the servicing cooperative must compensate over 12.2 million UAH for turning leased municipal land into a dump. Instead of building garages, all sorts of waste were piled up on the premises – from household and construction waste to used tires and sawdust.
Source: Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office
In Cherkasy, a discharge of sewage directly into the River Dnipro has been discovered. The State Environmental Inspectorate is demanding that the relevant municipal utility company immediately cease polluting the water body. Levels of harmful substances have already been found to be significantly above the permitted limits. Chemical oxygen demand has also risen by more than twofold.
Source: State Environmental Inspectorate of the Central District
You can learn how Ukrainian nature suffered last week here.
