UAH 103 million in damages and 19,000 felled trees: prosecutor’s office has uncovered yet another scheme to destroy forests in Lviv region. PHOTOS
The Specialised Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of the General Prosecutor’s Office has uncovered yet another scheme involving the illegal destruction of forest in the Lviv region. The organiser is the director of the Slavske subsidiary forestry enterprise ‘Galsillis’, who is also a sitting member of the local village council.
This was reported by Censor.NET, citing Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.
How the official operated
- Between 2019 and 2023, the official issued official permits (logging tickets) for the felling of "sparse woodland". Such a category of felling does not exist in Ukrainian legislation at all. This was an attempt to legalise the destruction of the forest.
- In this way, almost 19,000 trees were destroyed in the Stryi district. The damage caused to the environment exceeds 103 million hryvnias.
- To carry out the work, the suspect engaged private companies who were unaware of his criminal intentions and believed the work to be lawful.
The official has been notified of the charges
The official has been notified of suspicion regarding the illegal felling of timber, committed by a group of individuals acting in collusion, which resulted in serious consequences (Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The prosecutor’s office has applied to the court for a preventive measure – round-the-clock house arrest – as well as for the seizure of assets.
"No position or status gives the right to destroy Ukrainian forests for personal gain. You will be held accountable under the law for every tree felled," emphasised Kravchenko.
