Garbage, logging and poachers: State Environmental Inspectorate recorded losses of over 25 million hryvnias per week

Among the numerous environmental violations recorded in Ukraine, we can highlight the mass felling of trees, land pollution, illegal hunting, and waste dumping, which resulted in losses exceeding 25 million hryvnias. The most significant cases were recorded in the Zhytomyr, Ternopil, and Odesa regions, as well as eight other regions.

Environmental Week: Fines and Damages

During the week, representatives of the State Environmental Inspectorate conducted 373 inspections in various parts of Ukraine. As a result:

fines exceeding 110 thousand hryvnias were imposed,
104 thousand hryvnias were collected from the state budget,
damages in the field of ecology amounted to over 25.6 million hryvnias,
lawsuits and claims for 2.35 million hryvnias were filed,
2.2 million hryvnias were collected, partly through voluntary agreements and partly by force.
Major high-profile cases

Zhytomyr region

In the village of Kamyanka, 45 trees of various species were illegally cut down, which resulted in damage of 2.7 million hryvnias. The case was transferred to the SBU, and the police opened criminal proceedings.

Ternopil region

Unknown individuals set up a spontaneous garbage dump on the territory of the Velykybyrkivska community. The total amount of damage is estimated at almost 16 million hryvnias; the case was transferred to the police.

Kirovohrad region

In the “Urochyshche Sad” reserve near the village of Vasylkivka, trees were cut down, and the area was littered, causing damage worth 1.5 million hryvnias. Law enforcement officers are looking for those involved.

Ivano-Frankivsk region

Two cases of illegal logging were recorded:

Near the village of Vystova, 23 trees were cut down (damages — 616 thousand hryvnias),
Near Burshtyn, 161 trees of various species were removed, resulting in damages of 809 thousand hryvnias. The materials were transferred to the prosecutor’s office and the police.
Odesa region

In the Krasnosilska community, 156 trees were cut down in the forest belt, resulting in a loss of 592,000 hryvnias.

Zaporizhzhia region

A landfill containing household, construction, and food waste was discovered near the regional hospital; the damage caused was estimated at 566 thousand hryvnias.

Sumy region

A case of poaching was recorded in the village of Lebedyny Bobryk — illegal catching of crayfish. The losses caused amounted to 1.2 million hryvnias.

Poltava Region

As part of the investigation, six nets and fish caught illegally were seized at the Kremenchuk reservoir, with the estimated damage amounting to 528 thousand hryvnias.

Environmentalists have recorded numerous violations that harm nature, water bodies, and protected areas, from the Carpathians to the Azov coast. Despite fines and criminal cases, the problems remain systemic.

The State Environmental Inspectorate emphasizes: “We do not just impose fines, but actively fight for the preservation of the environment and will continue to do so.”