Mykolaiv region: Prosecutor's Office exposes group of 'black' loggers

In Mykolaiv region, in Voznesensk district, law enforcement officers have completed an investigation into four residents of the Mostiv community. They are accused of illegal felling of trees in protective forest plantations.

This was reported by the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to the investigation, a 50-year-old man led the group, involving three acquaintances (aged 26, 30 and 31). They regularly destroyed trees of valuable species, including ash and hawthorn, looked for areas to cut down, and then transported, sawed and sold the wood. The environmental damage caused by their actions exceeded UAH 3 million.

The four will be tried for illegal felling of trees, which caused grave consequences and was committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy (Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). For such a crime, the accused face imprisonment for a term of five to seven years.

Last year, it was reported that more than 340 trees had been illegally cut down on the territory of the Mostiv community in Mykolaiv region since August 2024. State Environmental Inspector Volodymyr Kempnyk demonstrated the latest facts of illegal firewood harvesting that led to the destruction of almost a century-old plantations. Four criminal proceedings have been initiated on the grounds of a crime under Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

In addition, the Inspectorate received an appeal regarding massive illegal felling of trees in protective forest plantations near the village of Veselynove, Voznesensk district, Mykolaiv region. The case file was forwarded to law enforcement agencies.

Катерина Глушко