The Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor's Office, with the participation of territorial divisions of the National Police of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Security Service, and the State Bureau of Investigation, exposed a number of forestry officials who caused losses to the state in excess of UAH 23 million.

Among the suspects are representatives of the public sector of the forestry industry, heads of state, municipal, and private enterprises. In particular:

- an official of the SE “Grozynske” organized illegal logging in forest areas transferred to protection, which resulted in UAH 14.6 million in damages;

- a forest master of the Kyiv Forest Office branch of the SE “Forests of Ukraine” — due to official negligence, allowed the unauthorized felling of 286 trees worth UAH 2.4 million;

- the head of a limited liability company used forged documents to organize the smuggling of timber prohibited for export worth over UAH 5 million.

Also, based on the results of the pre-trial investigation, prosecutors have already sent an indictment to trial against the head of the solid waste landfill of the Zhytomyr City Council's municipal enterprise. He evaded the protection of forestry lands bordering the landfill territory. He caused their pollution and damage in the amount of UAH 840,000.

Depending on the crimes committed, their actions are classified under part 3 of Art 201-1, part 1 of Art 239, part 4 of Art 246, and part 4 of Art 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Note: according to Art. 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 guilty verdict of the court.

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In Zhytomyr region, forestry officials who caused almost UAH 23 million in losses to the state were exposed. Three were charged, and one case was referred to court