In the Carpathian region, major cases of illegal deforestation were found

In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, a large-scale case arose in the field of forest management. Law enforcement officers announced suspicions against nine officials who were allegedly involved in illegal logging of trees and abuse of office. The losses caused to the state amount to over UAH 721 million.

This information was published in the Office of the Prosecutor General. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko emphasized that Ukraine’s forests are national wealth, and corruption schemes that exist in this field threaten the country’s ecology. He noted that law enforcement officers continue to investigate crimes related to illegal logging, and in this case, the Carpathian region is explicitly involved.

The head of the regional prosecutor’s office, Anton Voitenko, assured that the efforts of law enforcement officers are aimed at protecting forest resources that have suffered significant losses. The primary responsibility lies with the officials of the “Kutsk Forestry”. In 2022, two former executives and other employees of this enterprise were permitted to cut down trees at the Hutsulshchyna National Park without obtaining the necessary permits, resulting in the destruction of more than 13,000 trees across an area of 195 hectares. This has resulted in losses exceeding UAH 700 million.

Other suspects include the chief forester of one of the local state-owned enterprises, who allegedly issued logging tickets illegally, as well as the directors of several agrolyshom farms that sold wood at low prices. The state also caused significant losses as a result of its actions.

The pre-trial investigation continues with the participation of investigators from the State Institution of NP in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, as well as other relevant services. Criminal proceedings are initiated under articles related to exceeding authority, illegal logging, and official negligence.

It is worth noting that, in the background of investigations into the activity of “Forests of Ukraine,” already documented losses amount to approximately UAH 925 million, and 44 suspicions have been identified. Experts consider the situation in this field systemic, particularly through the involvement of not only illegal loggers but also forest protection staff.

Law enforcement officers remind that such crimes can lead to environmental disasters, as well as disrupt stability in the woodworking and furniture industry due to raw materials deficiency and price fluctuations.