Zhytomyr region agricultural company caught on illegal sand mining worth almost UAH 5 million

Zhytomyr region agricultural company caught on illegal sand mining worth almost UAH 5 million zhit.gp.gov.ua

Anna Velyka

Its head concluded a contract with a contractor for sand extraction on an industrial scale under the guise of clearing and deepening the bottom of the reservoir

The head of an agricultural enterprise in the Radomyshl community of Zhytomyr region organized sand extraction from a reservoir without any permits for such work. In 2023, more than 4.3 thousand cubic meters of sand were removed from the irrigation reservoir, causing almost UAH 5 million in environmental damage.

This was reported by the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor's Office.

zhit.gp.gov.ua

zhit.gp.gov.ua

Sand was mined on the plot leased by the farm with the help of special equipment – a dredger and an excavator. Then it was taken by dump trucks to other leased areas for leveling the surface.

zhit.gp.gov.ua

zhit.gp.gov.ua

Investigators of the Korostyshiv District Prosecutor's Office informed the head of the farm about the suspicion of illegal mining of minerals, because carrying out such types of work requires the prior obtaining of a special permit, a mining right-of-way and a plan for the development of a mineral deposit. They also seized the special equipment and are taking measures to recover from the suspect the damages caused to the state and the environment.

In March, EcoPolitic reported that in Volyn municipal workers were accused of mining sand for 1.2 million hryvnias. We also told that in Transcarpathia the company mined sand under the guise of fish breeding.

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The environmental damage is estimated at over 1.7 million hryvnias