Where in Ukraine Can You Pick Mushrooms in the Fall: Rules, Restrictions, and Fines
In Ukraine, the mushroom-picking season traditionally begins in the fall, but you can’t go mushrooming in just any forest. During martial law, additional restrictions on visiting forested areas are in effect in certain regions, and you can be fined for illegally picking mushrooms or violating the rules in protected areas.
At the same time, there is no general requirement for citizens who pick mushrooms for personal consumption to obtain a special permit.
For personal use, Ukrainians may pick mushrooms free of charge in state-owned and municipal forests. As of June 12, 2026, the State Environmental Inspection notes that no special permit is required for such picking.
The situation is different if mushrooms are harvested for sale or commercial purposes. In this case, a special permit—a forest permit—is required.
However, the ability to pick mushrooms for personal use free of charge does not mean that entering any forest is permitted. Additional prohibitions or restrictions on human presence may apply in certain areas.
Where Mushroom Picking Is Prohibited
Special rules apply to areas designated as nature reserves.
In the protected zone of a national nature park, picking mushrooms and berries is prohibited. However, this prohibition does not necessarily apply to the entire territory of a specific national park.
The fact is that a park’s territory may be divided into different functional zones, each with its own set of usage regulations.
Therefore, before going mushroom picking in a national nature park, it’s a good idea to check the rules for the specific area you plan to visit in advance.
What restrictions apply near the border with Russia and Belarus
During martial law, special rules apply in border areas, particularly along Ukraine’s borders with Russia and Belarus.
Within a one-kilometer-wide strip along the state border with Russia and Belarus, the free entry, presence, residence, and movement of people are prohibited, as is the performance of any work not related to defense or the protection of the state border.
This is not a specific ban on mushroom picking. Rather, it is a restriction on access to the border area, which means that staying there without valid grounds may be prohibited.
At the same time, one should not assume that all forests outside the one-kilometer border zone are automatically open to visitors. Additional restrictions may be in effect in certain regions and communities.
Therefore, before traveling, you should check the current decisions of local authorities and the military administration.
Fines for Illegal Mushroom Picking
According to a clarification from the State Environmental Inspection of the Polissya District, unauthorized picking of mushrooms and other forest resources in areas where it is prohibited or permitted only with a special permit may be punishable by a fine ranging from 17 to 51 hryvnias for citizens.
This liability is governed by Article 70 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
Separate fines are provided for violations of the rules governing the protection and use of territories and objects within the nature reserve fund.
According to the State Environmental Inspection of the Southern District, citizens may face a fine ranging from 153 to 408 hryvnias for violating the rules governing the protection and use of areas within the nature reserve fund.
In addition, the law provides for the confiscation of tools used in the violation and of illegally extracted natural resources.
However, these fines are not automatically cumulative. The specific provision and type of liability depend on the circumstances and nature of the violation.
It is important to distinguish between picking mushrooms for personal consumption and harvesting them for sale.
Violations of the procedures for the acquisition, sale, or distribution of plant life, as provided for in Article 88-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, are punishable by a fine ranging from 510 to 1,700 hryvnias. In some cases, the confiscation of plant species is also provided for.
If the items in question were located within a nature reserve, listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, or protected under international treaties, the fine may range from 1,700 to 3,655 hryvnias, along with confiscation.
However, these amounts do not apply to ordinary mushroom picking for personal use. They pertain to violations of the procedures for acquiring, selling, or distributing such natural resources.
Before heading into the forest, it’s worth checking a few important points.
First, you need to find out whether there are any bans or restrictions on visiting forests in that specific area.
Second, you need to check whether the selected area is located in a border zone.
Third, if it is part of a nature reserve, you must find out what regulations apply specifically to that functional zone.
It is especially important not to rely solely on the distance from the state border. The fact that a forest is located more than one kilometer from the border does not in itself mean that it can be visited without restriction. During martial law, local authorities and military administrations may impose additional restrictions.
Therefore, before going mushroom hunting, it is safest to check the latest information from local authorities, the military administration, or the forestry department. This will help you avoid violating established rules and potentially facing a fine.
October is considered one of the most productive and, at the same time, most comfortable months for mushroom hunters. During this period, a unique microclimate develops in the forests, as the summer heat gives way to cooler temperatures, and morning fog and humid air create the ideal environment for mycelium to grow. Unlike in September, mushrooms grow a little more slowly in October, but they stay fresh much longer, are less likely to be worm-eaten, and have a firm texture.
The first full week of October is considered one of the most favorable periods for “quiet hunting” in Ukrainian forests thanks to the warm fall weather and morning mists. From October 5 to 11, there is an active wave of fruiting for both noble and late-autumn mushrooms, including porcini, boletes, birch boletes, butter mushrooms, Polish mushrooms, and the first mass appearance of autumn honey mushrooms.
