A Lviv company, under the guise of “research”, conducted illegal mineral extraction in Volyn for five years. This resulted in losses for the state amounting to 102 million hryvnias. Nearly 105,000 tonnes of strategic resources were stolen: over 56 tonnes of aleurolite, over 34 tonnes of argillite, and over 14 tonnes of sandstone, which are critically needed for construction.
According to the Specialised Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the company director has been charged under Part 4, Article 240 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. During the investigation, 5 searches were conducted in the Volyn, Lviv, and Kyiv regions, with special equipment, cash, and evidence of the legalisation of illegally extracted resources confiscated.
This scheme is not an isolated problem — it is part of a larger system. Often, industrial mineral extraction is carried out under the pretence of scientific study. A moratorium on inspections and limited grounds for revoking permits only facilitate this. The Prosecutor General’s Office has repeatedly emphasised the need for urgent legislative action.
Source: SpecprokuraturaZahidRegion