A verdict was handed down in the Odesa region for the illegal mining of limestone

In the Odesa region, a military servicemember was convicted of organizing illegal limestone mining. The unauthorized use of mineral resources caused the state losses totaling more than 2.7 million hryvnias.

This is stated in the verdict of the Bilyayivsky District Court of Odesa Oblast.

The man was sentenced to five years in prison, with the sentence suspended for a two-year probationary period. Supervision of the sentence’s enforcement has been entrusted to the commander of his military unit.

As established by the investigation, from May 2024 to January 2025, the defendant, together with his accomplices, organized the extraction and sale of limestone without any permits. The illegal quarry operated on the outskirts of the village of Illinka in the Usativska rural community of the Odesa district. 

During this period, the perpetrators extracted and sold to buyers more than 21,000 blocks of limestone with a total weight of over 250 metric tons. The court identified five instances of the crime:

• May–August 2024: 8,413 units (60.5 metric tons), damages of 646,800 UAH;
• November 10–17, 2024: 2,785 units (44.56 metric tons), damages of 472,800 UAH;
• late November 2024–January 15, 2025: 8,410 units (134.56 metric tons), losses exceeding 1.4 million UAH;
• December 27–30, 2024: 1,000 units (16 metric tons), losses of 169,800 UAH;
• January 14–15, 2025: 1,000 units (16 metric tons), losses of 169,800 UAH.

During the court hearing, the defendant pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement.

The proceedings against the group’s organizer have been separated. 

Юлія Калабайда