In Buchanan district, a man was punished for a dog trap

On August 16, 2025, the Kyiv region police discovered a case of animal cruelty in the village of Gorenka, Buchansky district. While monitoring social networks, law enforcement officers came across a post about a dog that had been injured after falling into a trap. The animal received the necessary veterinary care.

The police were able to identify the man who left the trap and filed administrative materials under Article 89, Part 1, of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. Information about the event was entered into the Unified Register of Applications and Reports on Criminal Offenses.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, in the first five months of 2025, a record 386 cases were opened under Article 299 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (cruelty to animals), which is 3.7 times more than in the same period last year. In 80% of cases, suspicions have already been announced, although only 4% of all proceedings have reached court.

Anastasiia Hevchuk, a lawyer for UAnimals, emphasized that the increase in the number of cases does not necessarily indicate a trend towards increased violence, but rather reflects more active reporting of offenses resulting from educational activities and improved access to legal tools.

In 2025, 20 verdicts have already been handed down in cases of animal cruelty. For example, in the Lviv region, a man received 5 years in prison for beating a dog to death, while in some cases, criminals are punished with fines or suspended sentences.