Case on bribes from potential hunters in Odesa sent to court

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation have completed a pre-trial investigation into a large-scale scheme to make money while issuing hunting licenses at the Southern Interregional Forestry and Hunting Department of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine.

According to the SBI press service, the indictment was sent to court.

In early 2024, the head of the interregional department, in collusion with his deputy and another subordinate, set up a "stream" of extortion from those wishing to take the exam and obtain a hunting license in Odesa, which allowed them to hunt.

The Prosecutor 's Office of Odesa region clarified that the authority of the department has been extended to Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.

Officials forced the members of the examination committee to take a fee from applicants to pass the exam. In case of refusal, they threatened employees with dismissal. It cost from 2 to 4 thousand hryvnias to get a certificate.

According to intelligence, during the period of the scheme, the officials managed to earn more than a million hryvnias by issuing 500 hunting licenses.

In February 2025, the SBI detained the dealers during another episode of distribution of profits received for positive assessments.

The head of the department is currently suspended from office and is accused of obtaining an unlawful benefit by an official committed by an organized group (Article 28(3), Article 368(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Meanwhile, an inspector of the Preventive Activities Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Odesa region was served a notice of suspicion of extortion and receiving an illegal benefit. In return for a weekly fee of USD 100 per car, the police officer promised not to impede their movement. In particular, he guaranteed to coordinate the lists of vehicles with the management, warn about the location of checkpoints and patrols, and influence his colleagues in case of a stop.

Кирило Бойко