Searches were conducted at a large andesite quarry in Transcarpathia
Law enforcement officials conducted large-scale searches at the largest andesite quarry in Zakarpattia, where mining operations are underway at the “Kamianitske-2” deposit near Uzhhorod.
According to the investigation, the prosecutor’s office is looking into the circumstances surrounding possible illegal mining of mineral resources. The deposit is being developed by a company co-owned by the son of People’s Deputy Mykhailo Laba.
In turn, Mykhailo Laba, a co-owner of KobaltumResourceExport LLC, claimed that his company is under pressure.
As reported by the Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, June 29, andesite is being mined on an area of 59 hectares without an environmental impact assessment and on forest lands designated for recreational and health purposes.
To use this land for a quarry, it first had to be officially removed from the forest fund, its designated use changed, and compensation provided for the resulting losses. According to the investigation, this was not done. As a result, “Forests of Ukraine” lost the ability to use the plots for their intended purpose, and the mining operations themselves led to the destruction of the forest and the natural environment.
“Information is also being verified regarding the unauthorized use of forest fund lands to install a power line approximately 3.5 km long and more than fifty power poles necessary for the enterprise’s operations,” the prosecutor’s office stated.
Law enforcement officials, together with representatives of the labor inspectorate, the environmental service, the State Geocadastre, and mining engineers, conducted authorized inspections on the deposit’s territory and are reviewing the actions of officials regarding the conclusion of easement agreements and the organization of logging operations.
The circumstances of the case are being investigated as part of proceedings under four articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 4 of Article 240 (illegal extraction of mineral resources), Part 2 of Article 209 (legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means), Part 3 of Article 212 (tax evasion), and Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official position). The penalties under these articles provide for up to 8 years of imprisonment.
During the searches, Mykhailo Laba, a co-owner of “KobaltumResourceExport” and a deputy of the Transcarpathian Regional Council, claimed that his company was under pressure; according to him, the company operates within the legal framework and holds all necessary permits and licenses.
“About 50 people, dozens of vehicles, armed men in masks. We were forced to suspend our company’s operations. This is a direct blow to our employees, the region’s economy, and the principles of conducting legitimate business. We see the events that have taken place as signs of pressure on a company that is conducting lawful business activities in the region. We call on the competent authorities to provide a legal assessment of these actions and to restore the company’s unimpeded operations,” stated Mykhailo Laba.
What is known about the company and its owners
As a reminder, KobaltumResourceExport LLC received a permit to mine andesite from the largest deposit in Zakarpattia in January 2026, paying 75 million hryvnias for it.
According to the analytical portal Youcontrol, the company was registered in July 2023 by Kharkiv resident Volodymyr Andriushchenko, who is linked to the “AVEC” business group owned by billionaire People’s Deputy Oleksandr Feldman of the Opposition Platform—For Life party. In December 2023, the firm changed its registration from Kharkiv to Uzhhorod and is currently located in the village of Nevytske, Uzhhorod District.
In February 2025, the son of Transcarpathian People’s Deputy Mykhailo Laba joined KobaltumResourceExport LLC. Like his father, he is a deputy representing “Servant of the People,” though not in the Verkhovna Rada, but in the Transcarpathian Regional Council.
Since 2020, the co-owner of the mining company has served as director of the “Transcarpathian Regional Development Agency” and received bonuses that his father voted to allocate in parliament. For this, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) filed reports against MP Mykhailo Laba.
In October 2025, Mykhailo Laba voted in favor of the potential large-scale construction of wind turbines in the Carpathians, and a few months later, he was suspected of organizing a criminal group within the Verkhovna Rada.
Hungarywants language guarantees for Transcarpathia.
Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, made high-profile statements regarding the situation of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine and the European Union’s future economic relations with the Russian Federation.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Hungary, Andriy Sibiga and Anita Orbán, held their first face-to-face meeting on May 22. During the talks in Helsingborg, the parties agreed to hold a second round of expert-level consultations next week to further discuss bilateral issues.
Earlier, the Hungarian government commented on the massive attack by Russian drones on Zakarpattia, during which the region’s critical infrastructure was targeted. Budapest described the situation in the border region as extremely alarming and announced that it was preparing urgent countermeasures.
