EcoPolitic journalists have collected the most damaging cases of environmental damage over the past week from October 4 to 10.
1) A poacher caused UAH 6 million in damage to the Tuzly Estuaries National Park.
In Odesa region, inspectors exposed a man who was illegally fishing while conducting environmental protection activities in the Tuzly Estuaries National Nature Park. It happened on Lake Burnas, near the village of Lebedivka, within the nature reserve fund.
Photo: derzhecoinspekciya_pivdenno_zah
The offender, without the necessary permits, caught 331 specimens of sharpnose mullet. The environmental damage was assessed at 6 million UAH.
Photo: derzhecoinspekciya_pivdenno_zah
Law enforcement officers issued an administrative protocol against the poacher under Article 91 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. Materials are currently being prepared to refer the case to court.
Photo: derzhecoinspekciya_pivdenno_zah
2) Illegal extraction of groundwater in Poltava region caused environmental damage amounting to UAH 450 million.
According to the investigation, two former directors of a utility company extracted groundwater from artesian wells without the necessary permits for subsoil use and water use. The total volume of illegally extracted water is over 300 thousand cubic meters.
Photo: pgo_gov_ua
According to representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the illegal water extraction lasted from August 2021 to June 2024. In order to compensate for the damages, prosecutors filed lawsuits against the defendants. One of the officials was sued for more than UAH 60 million in damages, and the other for UAH 390 million.
The defendants are charged under Article 240(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for illegal extraction of mineral resources of national importance. In particular, the ex-directors are accused of abuse of office, which led to grave consequences.
3) A landfill with chemicals was discovered in Volyn region with total environmental damage of more than UAH 4 million.
In the Volyn region, inspectors of the State Environmental Inspectorate found violations of environmental standards at a solid waste landfill near the village of Tsehiv. In particular, they found soil contamination with chemicals. Experts estimated the damage at over UAH 4 million.
Photo: suspilne.media/lutsk
According to the experts, a study of soil samples taken from the landfill revealed a significant excess of chemicals, which indicates systemic contamination of the land by household waste. In particular, it is likely that industrial enterprises are also involved in the pollution.
The village council has now received a request from the inspectors to explain the incident. The inspectors are also trying to determine who should be held responsible for the damage. The police refrained from commenting on the situation, citing the secrecy of the investigation.
Photo: suspilne.media/lutsk
Environmentalists emphasize that it is necessary to reclaim the land, eliminate the landfill, and introduce waste management controls. These actions will help avoid the consequences of soil contamination in the future.
4) In Kirovohrad region, a forestry official who authorized the felling of trees worth more than UAH 4 million will be tried.
In Kirovohrad region, officers of the State Bureau of Investigation have completed a pre-trial investigation against a forestry official involved in large-scale illegal felling of centuries-old trees. According to the investigation, the man's actions caused the state losses of more than UAH 4 million.
This is an official of the Golovaniv Forestry branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine". According to the SBI, the official illegally issued additional logging tickets to artificially improve the company's performance. During the year, he authorized the cutting down of almost six hundred trees, including oaks, maples, ash trees, hornbeams and linden trees about a hundred years old.
Photo: DBRgovua
The defendant is currently under house arrest. He is charged with illegal felling of trees under Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and abuse of power under Part 3 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The official faces up to 10 years in prison. Law enforcers also filed a civil lawsuit in the interests of the state to recover compensation for the damage caused from the accused.
5) In Odesa region, 3 forestry employees are suspected of illegal logging of wood worth more than UAH 2 million.
The Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office sent to court an indictment against 3 forestry officials who organized illegal felling of trees in the forest blocks of the Labushna tract of the Balta territorial community.
According to the investigation, the forest masters, in collusion with the acting forester, illegally cut down 120 oaks and ash trees in September-October 2024. To cover up the crime, they executed contracts for sanitary felling and entered false data into the electronic timber accounting system.
Photo: od.gp.gov.uauaindex.htm
The investigation established that, instead of protecting and preserving the forest, the forestry officials facilitated its destruction, as they issued logging permits, advised where to cut, warned of inspections, removed obstacles, and even assisted in selling illegally harvested timber.
Photo: od.gp.gov.uauaindex.htm
As a result of these actions, the state sustained damages exceeding 2 million hryvnias. The officials are charged with illegal logging on a particularly large scale, abuse of office, and falsification of official documents under Part 4 of Article 246, Part 2 of Article 364, and Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Photo: od.gp.gov.uauaindex.htm
We remind EcoPolitic readers that the head of a sector of one of the units of the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine is suspected of illegal amber mining worth UAH 354 million in Rivne region.
In total, seven members of the illegal organization were notified of suspicion, including the former director of one of the branches of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine". They are suspected of creating, managing and participating in criminal organizations, as well as illegal amber mining with the use of their official position.
We also recommend reading the digest that EcoPolitics wrote last week about the top 3 most damaging cases of environmental damage from September 27 to October 3.
