Under the procedural guidance of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office, a large-scale scheme of illegal logging has been uncovered, which operated in the territory of one of the forestry enterprises in Lviv region.

According to the investigation, the organizer of the scheme was the director of the subsidiary forestry enterprise "Halsilisu." Using his official position, he not only organized illegal logging and subsequent sale of timber but also skillfully concealed it.

To implement the plan, he involved four subordinates, creating a criminal group. It included two forest masters and an acting forester.

The scheme involved systematic and concealed logging, conducted under "double standards":

- Trees that were not included in the official permit documents (logging tickets) were cut down;

- Logging was carried out in areas not designated for this purpose.

Valuable species were targeted for logging: pine, hornbeam, cherry, and oak.

The director, as the leader of the organized group:

- Developed a detailed plan and assigned roles;

- Coordinated all stages of illegal logging and concealment of traces;

- Distributed profits from the illegal sale of timber among all participants.

The tasks of the other group members were as follows:

- The forester and one of the forest masters, who owned a woodworking enterprise, were responsible for branding, electronic accounting, and transporting the "shadow" timber for sale;

- The other forest master directly organized the illegal logging, prepared the tools, and was responsible for sawing the felled trees.

To disguise their criminal activity, group members resorted to "masking" the felled timber. They understated the quality and volume.

Subsequently, the timber was transported and sold for cash.

In total, from June to July 2025, illegal logging of nearly 700 trees was documented, of which 683 were pine trees.

The damage caused to the environment amounts to almost 9 million UAH.

Under the procedural guidance of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the director of the enterprise has been notified of suspicion of organizing illegal logging in the forest, transporting, storing, and selling it, which caused severe consequences (Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 28 – Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), while other members of the organized group are suspected of committing illegal logging in the forest, transporting, storing, and selling it, which caused severe consequences (Part 2 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 28 – Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Investigative actions are ongoing, and all individuals involved in the illegal activity are being identified.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Lviv Region, with operational support from the Strategic Investigations Department in the Lviv Region of the National Police of Ukraine.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.