Head of a utility company in Odesa region is under investigation for deforestation

In Odesa region, the head of a utility company is suspected of organizing massive felling of greenery instead of restoring it. According to the investigation, the official's illegal actions caused hundreds of thousands of hryvnias in damage to the community and the environment.

This was reported by the press service of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors of the Bolhrad District Prosecutor's Office have served a notice of suspicion to the head of a communal enterprise in one of the communities of Odesa Oblast.

PHOTO: od.gp.gov.ua

The head of the utility company, which was responsible for the restoration and maintenance of green spaces, is suspected of abuse of office and illegal deforestation under Part 2 of Article 364, Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, in November 2024, the director of the company organized illegal logging for his own enrichment. He instructed his subordinates to cut down acacia trees on the territory of the forest fund in the Bolhrad district.

PHOTO: od.gp.gov.ua

The work involved six employees of the utility company, who were provided with the company's equipment - chainsaws and a tractor with a trailer. According to the press service of the prosecutor's office, 75 trees were destroyed as a result of the illegal actions of the utility company, and the environmental damage caused exceeded UAH 400,000.

At the request of the prosecutor's office, the official was suspended from his duties and bail in the amount of almost UAH 1 million was imposed. The illegally harvested timber was seized and arrested. The pre-trial investigation is currently underway, and the case is being investigated by police units.

PHOTO: od.gp.gov.ua

An investigation into the illegal export of timber from Ukraine is also underway in Odesa. According to the investigation, three participants in the scheme organized the smuggling of timber prohibited for export by hiding it from customs control.

Law enforcement officers found out that one of the defendants submitted several declarations to the customs with false information about the origin and quantity of goods. In total, more than 114 cubic meters of wood were smuggled across the border.

Анна Бальчінос