EcoPolitic journalists have collected for their readers the 8 most significant cases of environmental damage that became known during the week of February 22-28. Information about them was published by the press services of prosecutors, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), as well as the State Ecological Inspectorate of Ukraine and its subdivisions.
1. A forest forester of the Chernivtsi Forestry Enterprise was suspected of negligence that caused grave consequences by SBI employees. In early 2023, he neglected his duties, failed to properly protect the forests in his area of responsibility, and failed to inform law enforcement about the facts of illegal logging.
Photo: chrn.gp.gov.ua.
As a result, unknown persons cut down hornbeams, oaks, lindens, and several beeches on the territory of the Tereblechanske forestry. The expert examination found that the amount of damage caused to the state is more than UAH 1.5 million.
2. Prosecutors of the Bilyayivka District Prosecutor's Office in Odesa region served a notice of suspicion of negligence and air pollution on the director of a utility company who was responsible for operating a solid waste landfill but systematically neglected his duties. He did not ensure proper security of the territory, did not take fire safety measures, and did not control the accumulation of biogas.
Photo: od.gp.gov.ua.
In June 2023, a large-scale fire broke out at the landfill due to these violations. It lasted for 11 days. The fire caused the release of biogas and other hazardous substances into the air over an area of more than 1 hectare.
In September of the same year, another fire occurred. Due to dry weather and strong winds, it quickly spread to an area of 0.28 hectares. Firefighters managed to eliminate it only after 9 hours.
Photo: od.gp.gov.ua.
The total amount of environmental damage from significant air pollution during both fires exceeded UAH 4.7 million.
3. In the Kirovohrad region, during a routine inspection of the Kompaniivka village council in the Kropyvnytskyi district, environmental inspectors found 4 contaminated sites at once – near the villages of Vynohradivka, Nechaivka, Sofiivka and Ternove. They calculated the environmental damage caused by this pollution. The total amount amounted to almost UAH 3.5 million.
4. Specialists of the Southwestern District Inspectorate discovered the illegal felling of 300 oak and ash trees in two forest shelterbelts near the village of Cherniakhivske in Odesa Oblast. The total amount of damage is over UAH 3.2 million.
5. In Chernihiv Oblast, environmental inspectors confirmed the fact of illegal tree cutting on the T-25-14 Nizhyn-Bakhmach-Dmytrivka highway section within the road right-of-way between Velyka Zahorivka and Plisky. They received a report of this violation through the official resource of the Ministry of Environment “EcoThreat”. Unknown persons caused damage to the state in the amount of over UAH 1.1 million.
6. Prosecutors served a notice of suspicion to the organizer and members of an organized criminal group who illegally cut down forests in the Haisyn community of Vinnytsia region. From January to July 2024, they were operating in the forest belt for profit. The suspects transported the wood to a previously prepared area and sold it in large quantities. They caused environmental damage worth over UAH 1.5 million.
Photo: vin.gp.gov.ua.
Photo: vin.gp.gov.ua.
During more than 30 searches, the group members were confiscated illegally cut timber, nearly $60,000 and more than UAH 400,000 in cash, vehicles for transporting timber, chainsaws and other woodworking equipment, mobile phones, draft records of the “loggers'” activities, and bank cards. The group members now face imprisonment for a term of 5 to 7 years.
Photo: vin.gp.gov.ua.
7. A 38-year-old resident of Sambir district will stand trial for illegal logging in the Boykivshchyna National Nature Park. The man first used a horse-drawn wagon to transport the felled wood, and then loaded it onto a borrowed truck. The offender intended to sell the felled trees.
By his actions, he caused the state over UAH 800 thousand in losses.
8. A site manager of a Chyhyryn district enterprise is suspected of polluting agricultural land and forests to the tune of more than half a million hryvnias.
Photo: chk.gp.gov.ua.
According to the investigation, contrary to the established standards and rules for waste disposal, the company illegally dumped animal waste generated at the enterprise. This led to the contamination of land plots with ammonium, phosphorus and chlorides over an area of more than 22 hectares.
Photo: chk.gp.gov.ua.
Read about the criminal organization headed by a criminal authority that operated in Dnipropetrovs'k region in our previous digest.
