Prosecutors of the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of Ternopil Region have sent an indictment to the court against six people, including two officials of the branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine". They are accused of illegal logging, transportation, storage and sale of illegally felled trees as part of an organized group, as provided for in Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, a local resident organized an illegal business selling wood and involved several acquaintances, including officials responsible for forest protection. They informed the group about the locations of illegal logging in the forests of the Kremenets Forestry Branch and guaranteed the unhindered export of illegally cut wood. The officials convinced the accomplices that no response measures would be applied and the group members would not be held accountable.
During April–August 2024, "black loggers" cut down almost 100 oak trees on the branch's territory. Illegal felling of trees caused environmental damage of over 3.4 million hryvnias.
The investigation was carried out by investigators of the Ternopil Oblast Police Department. The trial of this case will allow establishing all the circumstances of the illegal business and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
