EkoPolityka has compiled the most high-profile cases of environmental damage during the past week from August 9–15. The sources of information were the State Environmental Inspectorate (SEI) and its subdivisions, the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), and press services of prosecutors’ offices in various regions.
1) Trees worth nearly UAH 1 million were illegally cut down in Rivne region.
In Rivne region, a forestry supervisor on the territory of the nature reserve within the Dubno forestry branch carried out a series of illegal logging activities.
Together with accomplices, they felled oaks and pines that were not designated for cutting under forestry regulations. The perpetrators transported the logged timber to a sawmill for further processing and sale. Losses caused to the forestry were assessed at nearly UAH 1 million.
Photo: t.me/polissyareg_dei
The prosecutor’s office reported that they have notified the forestry supervisor of the Dubno State Forestry Enterprise and two of his accomplices of suspicion. They are accused under Part 4, Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal tree felling within protected areas and transporting such trees, resulting in serious consequences).
The official is also additionally accused of abuse of office (Part 2, Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He faces imprisonment for a term of 5–7 years.
2) Illegal logging caused nearly UAH 1.5 million in environmental damage in Dnipropetrovsk region.
In Kamianske district of Dnipropetrovsk region, law enforcement uncovered an organized group established by a local entrepreneur for tree cutting. Their actions caused nearly UAH 1.5 million in damage.
Photo: dnipr.gp.gov.ua/ua/index.html
During 2024–2025, five individuals, without proper permits, cut down oaks and acacias for subsequent sale within the region. The timber was stored in rented premises.
The investigation will hold the five individuals accountable under Part 3, Article 28, and Part 4, Article of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (commission of an offense by an organized group of individuals). Currently, the suspects are held in custody, and pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
Photo: dnipr.gp.gov.ua/ua/index.html
3) An organized group that illegally appropriated forest fund lands in the Kyiv region worth more than UAH 38 million was exposed.
The Office of the Prosecutor General has charged five members of an organized group with suspicion of fraud and legalization of property obtained through criminal means.
The investigation reports that, by abusing their official positions during May–July 2021, the group used forged documents and illegally acquired land plots belonging to the state forestry enterprise “Kyivske Lisove” in the village of Kryukivshchyna, Bucha district.
They seized four plots with a total area of over 6 hectares, whose market value amounts to nearly 28 million UAH. Later, law enforcement officers uncovered fraud involving another 27 plots with a total area of 28 hectares in the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Forest Fund.
Total losses amount to 38 million UAH, and the land plots have been seized by law enforcement as a preventive measure against further fraud.
4) In Zhytomyr region, several entrepreneurs who caused environmental damage amounting to 3.6 million UAH were exposed.
In Zhytomyr region, law enforcement officers and employees of the environmental prosecutor's office uncovered nine individuals who inflicted damage to the forest fund. Among them are owners of commercial enterprises and illegal loggers.
Photo: zhit.gp.gov.ua/ua/index.html
During searches at the entrepreneurs’ premises, timber, marking tags for wood, and cash were confiscated. In total, the offenders inflicted damage amounting to 3.6 million UAH. They are suspected under Part 3 of Article 201-1, Part 3 of Article 240, and Part 4 of Article 246 (illegal logging and abuse of subsoil resources). The selection of preventive measures is ongoing.
Photo: zhit.gp.gov.ua/ua/index.html
5) In Ivano-Frankivsk region, trees were illegally felled for over 16 million UAH.
In the territories of the Kobaky and Nyzhniy Bereziv forestry enterprises, which are part of the nature reserve fund, 123 trees were illegally felled.
Specialists recorded the felling of alder, spruce, and fir, resulting in damages of 16 million UAH. A forensic engineering and environmental examination is currently underway to establish the circumstances of the case.
Photo: ifr.gp.gov.ua/ua/index.html
As previously reported by EcoPolitica, the Council of Europe demands explanations from the government regarding the logging of the protected Markhalivskyi forest in Kyiv region.
