Ukrainian forests continue to be felled, both due to abuse of power by officials and organised crime carried out by rank-and-file ‘illegal loggers’. At the same time, the state has suffered losses due to the value of waste disposal being underestimated by a factor of 900, whilst prosecutors continue, bit by bit, to return valuable land to community ownership, in particular plots in Bukovel covered by 100-year-old forests.
EcoPolitics has compiled information on the main environmental crimes that came to light between 12 and 18 September. This report is based on data from open sources – the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional public prosecutors’ offices, the State Bureau of Investigations and the State Environmental Inspectorate.
Illegal exploitation of mineral resources
Illegal extraction of sapropel – organic-mineral freshwater sediments – has been uncovered in the Kyiv region. Three people have been charged with the offence. Between 2024 and 2025, they extracted over 16,400 cubic metres of the mineral without a special permit. According to estimates by environmental inspection experts, the state has suffered losses amounting to 26.7 million hryvnias. The suspects face between 3 and 6 years’ imprisonment.
Source: State Environmental Inspectorate of the Capital District
Forest matters
Permission was granted for unauthorised felling – causing losses of 5.2 million UAH. In the Lviv region, a case concerning the former director and first deputy director of the state-owned enterprise ‘Zolochiv Forestry’ has been referred to court. The officials issued logging permits for tree felling in areas where such work was prohibited. The men were aware of the ban, but this did not stop them. As a result of the director’s actions, 4.5 million UAH worth of forest was illegally destroyed, whilst his subordinate caused a further loss of almost 700,000 UAH. In total, nearly 1,200 trees were felled across an area of over 34 hectares. Both officials face up to ten years’ imprisonment.
Джерело: Львівська обласна прокуратура
Another group of forest strip destroyers has been charged in the Dnipropetrovsk region. A group of eight ‘illegal loggers’ illegally felled trees in the Pavlohrad district between November 2025 and April 2026. The offenders had no permits, but they did have chainsaws, specialist equipment and a lorry. A law enforcement officer was also involved in the scheme. In total, the damage to the environment amounted to over 10 million hryvnias. During searches of those involved, cash, vehicles and documentation were seized, and a substance resembling drugs was also discovered.
Source: Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office
If the perpetrator cannot be identified, the forest user is held liable for failing to safeguard the forest. Indeed, in the Zaporizhzhia region alone, prosecutors have brought 10 claims totalling nearly 6 million hryvnias against local authorities and other forest users. The courts have already upheld the prosecutors’ claims for 5 million hryvnias. 1.1 million hryvnias in damages have already been paid. The Court of Appeal also upheld the State Environmental Inspectorate’s claim against the Malyn City Council. Thirty-six poplar trees were illegally felled on its territory. The damages exceeded 1.5 million hryvnias.
Valuable land
The picturesque Carpathian forests are among the most vulnerable to abuses concerning the land rights beneath them. For instance, near Bukovel, 20 plots containing trees over 100 years old have fallen into private ownership. The intended use is entirely predictable – for the construction of holiday homes. The basis for this is also quite obvious – forged documents. The land has been under the management of the state forestry enterprise since 2001, yet this did not prevent the offence from taking place. The Public Prosecutor’s Office succeeded in defending these lands both in the court of first instance and on appeal – the unlawful registration in the State Land Cadastre is to be revoked. However, the criminal proceedings in this case are still ongoing.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
Prosecutors are taking legal action against the Kyiv authorities, as, in the 27 years since the ‘Urochyshche Bobrovnya’ nature reserve was established, they have failed to properly draw up, approve and demarcate the boundaries of the protected area. It is a valuable habitat for rare species. Without clearly defined boundaries, there is a risk that the reserve’s protection regime will be breached.
Джерело: Київська міська прокуратура
In Kharkiv, 2 hectares of recreational land, densely covered with greenery, were transferred to a private company without a land auction. The justification given was the presence on the site of a non-residential building with an area of 125 square metres. However, the area of land transferred for the construction of a facility to accommodate athletes is 170 times larger than this building. The court of first instance did not take the prosecution’s arguments into account. However, the court of appeal nevertheless ruled that the land should be returned to the community.
Source: Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office
Crimes relating to littering
Waste disposal – for 1 UAH. Officials at the state-owned enterprise ‘Ukrvetsanzavod’ were notified that they were under suspicion of abuse of office resulting in serious consequences. They granted enormous “concessions” to certain companies – under the contract, the disposal of 1 tonne of animal waste cost them just 1 hryvnia. According to regulations, however, such a service costs around 900 hryvnia. The total losses are estimated at 3.4 million hryvnia. Law enforcement officers have established that the suspects acted in concert. They face up to five years in prison.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
Failure to supervise the landfill site led to a fire. The head of the Mykolaiv municipal solid waste landfill site, operated by the municipal enterprise ‘Mykolaivkomtrans’, received a notice of suspicion. He is accused of failing to perform his official duties properly. Due to his inadequate supervision, a fire broke out at the landfill, engulfing approximately 3,000 m² of rubbish. As a result of the prolonged burning, hazardous compounds were released into the air, causing environmental damage amounting to over 0.7 million UAH.
Джерело: Миколаївська обласна прокуратура
Fish meat
On 13 August, a mass fish kill – involving over 4,000 fish – was discovered in the Irpin River within the Gostomel District of the Kyiv Region. The State Environmental Inspection suspects pollution, as foam was observed on the water’s surface, which may have been caused by the unauthorised discharge of pollutants. The area has been surveyed and samples have been taken. The environmental damage is provisionally estimated at nearly 6.8 million hryvnias.
Source: Ministry of Economy
You can find out about environmental offences from last week by following this link.
