More than 2,000 trees were cut down in the Kherson region due to a scheme by officials
In the Kherson region, a case has been referred to court involving three forestry officials accused of abuse of authority and organizing illegal logging. According to the investigation, the officials’ actions caused extensive damage to the environment and the state, with losses estimated at nearly 8 million hryvnias.
The individuals in question are the acting director and the forester of the state-owned enterprise “Velykokopanivske Forestry and Hunting Enterprise,” as well as the chief specialist of the Southern Interregional Directorate of Forestry and Hunting. According to the prosecutor’s office, they were involved in a scheme of illegal timber harvesting.
The events took place in 2023. According to the investigation, the head of the state enterprise organized illegal logging in one of the forest sections of the Velykooleksandrivka Forestry. He was drawn into the scheme by the forester, who was supposed to facilitate the work.
The investigation pays particular attention to the fact that a forest plot covering approximately 3.5 hectares was artificially divided into smaller sections. According to the prosecution, this was done to avoid the mandatory environmental impact assessment and to simplify the paperwork. Subsequently, as noted, logging permits were issued in violation of legal requirements with the involvement of an official from the relevant department.
As a result of these actions, over 2,200 trees were illegally cut down. An expert assessment determined that these actions caused the state losses amounting to nearly 8 million hryvnias. The investigation believes that this is not a matter of isolated violations, but rather a systematic organization of the process that allowed timber to be removed outside of legal control procedures.
Prosecutors from the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office have already filed an indictment with the court. The case will now be heard in court, where the degree of liability for each of the defendants will be determined.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. This was reported by .
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