As established by environmental prosecutors, a 34-year-old head of one of the associations in Zhytomyr region organized the illegal extraction of a locally significant mineral – sand.

Throughout 2024, without having special permits for the extraction of minerals and the use of subsoil, the enterprise illegally extracted 68,745 cubic meters of sand.

Thus, the environment suffered damages exceeding 68 million UAH.

The head has been notified of suspicion under part 3 of Article 240 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – illegal use of subsoil.

Under the procedural guidance of the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor's Office, the pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police in Zhytomyr region with operational support from the Security Service of Ukraine in Zhytomyr region.

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.