An oil spill was discovered in the Ladyzhyn Reservoir near the power plant of the same name. Prosecutors from the Haisyn Regional Prosecutor's Office recorded the pollution and initiated criminal proceedings.
According to prosecutors, an investigation has been launched to identify those involved in the environmental crime.
A report of the reservoir contamination was received by the Vinnytsia Fish Protection Patrol hotline on December 4. Inspectors, together with representatives of the police, the prosecutor's office, the State Environmental Inspection, and the State Emergency Service, visited the site.
Operational actions
Prosecutors conducted searches on the territory of the Ladyzhyn Thermal Power Plant and collected samples for laboratory analysis—water, soil, and the pollutant itself.
An investigation is currently underway to identify those involved in the crime.
Source: Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office
A pre-trial investigation was launched under Part 1 of Article 242 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It concerns a violation of the rules for the protection of water bodies, which caused pollution that posed a threat to human life and health, as well as a danger to the environment.
Those responsible for the oil contamination of the Ladyzhyn Reservoir face a fine, a ban on holding certain positions for up to five years, or five years' imprisonment.
DTEK's position
The Ladyzhyn Thermal Power Plant is one of DTEK's power plants. The company blamed Russian shelling for the probable oil spill.
"Due to significant damage to the plant's equipment as a result of massive shelling, it is possible that oil-containing substances entered the engineering infrastructure. Checks and clarifications of all the circumstances of the incident are currently ongoing," reads the official statement.
The TPP also adds that they "immediately informed the environmental inspection and authorities" after discovering fuel oil in the reservoir.
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