Illegal logging in nature reserves has led to damages amounting to almost 95 million UAH, and prosecutors are holding individuals involved in these activities accountable. Environmental prosecutors are ensuring compensation for damages through the courts and bringing to justice officials and forest users who permitted or organized the destruction of forests in various regions of Ukraine.
In Ternopil, a large case has been brought to court against a director, chief forester, and administrator of a state forestry enterprise, accused of negligence. Due to the illegal documentation, 6,267 trees were destroyed, causing environmental damage amounting to nearly 57 million UAH.
In Dnipropetrovsk region, an indictment has been filed against the former director and engineer of one of the branches of SE “Forests of Ukraine”. According to the investigation, they organized sanitary loggings without permits within the regional landscape park “Dnipro Forests”, which led to the destruction of almost 500 trees and environmental damage amounting to 22 million UAH.
In Zhytomyr, an indictment was received by a former director of SE “Grozynske”, a forestry official, and a private company manager who organized illegal logging in forest areas. From December 2022 to June 2023, 2,321 trees were destroyed, causing damages amounting to over 12.8 million UAH.
A forest user from Ivano-Frankivsk is required to pay over 2.4 million UAH for the illegal logging of 91 trees within the landscape reserve “Kozakova Valley”. The Supreme Court confirmed the lawfulness of previous court decisions.
In Kirovohrad region, a former forest master of the Onikiiv forestry has been notified of suspicion in negligence, which led to the illegal cutting down of 77 trees, causing damages of over 462,000 UAH.
The environmental prosecution continues to protect natural resources and hold those responsible accountable.