In the Lviv region, 28 fir trees were illegally cut down in a nature reserve; the forest ranger has been charged

In the Lviv region, law enforcement officers uncovered the illegal felling of 28 fir trees on the territory of the “Hai” Landscape Reserve. The trees were illegally cut down in the Smozhansky Forest District, a branch of the “Slavske Forestry” unit of the State Forestry Agency “Forests of Ukraine.” The damage to the environment exceeds 2.5 million hryvnias.

According to the investigation, between February and April 2023, a 39-year-old acting forester failed to properly perform his official duties regarding forest protection in the territory entrusted to him near the village of Dolynivka in the Stryi District.

This involves lands within the “Hai” Landscape Reserve of local significance, which is part of Ukraine’s nature reserve fund.

Law enforcement officials determined that the official failed to take appropriate measures to prevent, detect, and document illegal logging.

“In particular, he failed to take appropriate measures to protect the forest from illegal logging, to prevent it, and to document it. Furthermore, he did not inspect the sites where trees were felled and did not ensure that those involved were identified and held accountable. As a result, 28 fir trees with diameters ranging from 36 to 63 cm were illegally cut down by individuals who have not yet been identified,” the prosecutor’s office stated in its report.

The illegal logging caused environmental damage amounting to over 2.5 million hryvnias. The trees in question, with diameters ranging from 36 to 63 centimeters, were felled within the territory of a nature reserve.

Law enforcement officials are currently identifying all individuals involved in the illegal logging.

As a result, a 39-year-old acting forest ranger has been notified that he is suspected of official negligence resulting in serious consequences for the public interest.

He is charged under Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The pretrial investigation aims to establish all the circumstances surrounding the illegal felling of fir trees on the territory of the Smozhansky Forest District, a branch of the “Slavske Forestry” enterprise under the State Forestry Agency “Forests of Ukraine,” as well as to identify the individuals who may be directly involved in the destruction of the trees.

This was reported on October 7 by the police and the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

Earlier in the Carpathian region, law enforcement officials exposed two officials from the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Forestry Office, a branch of the “Carpathian Forest Office” of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.” According to the investigation, they sold timber to business owners off the books and accepted money in return. Both men were detained during the handover of another 80,000 hryvnias.

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General announced that they had placed Fedir Khrystenko, a sitting member of parliament from the banned Opposition Platform—For Life party, under suspicion. He is accused of high treason and abuse of influence.

In Kyiv, a man set a soldier’s car on fire; charges have been filed.

In the Kharkiv region, a traitor was sentenced to 15 years for arson and coordinating Russian strikes.