Environmental crisis: Illegal logging of 14 hectares of forest in Vinnytsia region

The territorial directorate of the State Bureau of Investigation in Khmelnitsky suspects the head of the Mogilev-Podolsk forestry (Vinnytsia region) of organizing, together with accomplices, illegal logging, which caused the state damage of almost 51 million hryvnia.

As stated in the report of the investigative body, the director deliberately did not ensure that the forestry sector received a special document - an environmental impact assessment, only if it is available, the felling of trees in certain areas is permitted.

Without these documents, the manager during 2020-2021 issued logging tickets for large-scale logging. Thus, more than 7 thousand trees of different species were cut down on an area of ​​14 hectares.

According to experts, in addition to financial damage, the forest ecosystem was significantly damaged. Restoring it will require considerable funds and decades.

The director of a state-owned enterprise is suspected of exceeding official powers by a law enforcement officer, resulting in grave consequences, committed by a group of persons (Part 1 of Article 28, Part 3 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code). He faces imprisonment for up to 10 years.

As the regional prosecutor's office indicates, the suspect carried out illegal activities together with the acting first deputy head of the Vinnytsia regional forestry and hunting department, who is also a suspect in criminal proceedings.

The investigation documented five episodes of illegal activities by officials that resulted in damage to state interests in the field of protection, reproduction, sustainable and rational use of forest resources and public interests in the amount of more than 50 million hryvnia.

The first deputy head of the Vinnytsia regional forestry and hunting department was informed of suspicions about five fellings in the Mogilev-Podolsk farm with the same qualifications in early July.