Under the procedural guidance of the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor's Office, the head of a dairy processing enterprise has been notified of suspicion for violating water protection rules, which caused severe consequences (part 2 of Article 242 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, from May to November 2024, the enterprise, violating the requirements of environmental legislation, discharged untreated wastewater into a tributary of the Kaljus River.

Such actions led to changes in the physicochemical indicators of the water, exceeding the concentration of harmful substances, and the actual destruction of the natural environment of the water body.

A judicial environmental examination confirmed that damages to the environment and the lives of residents of the adjacent areas amounted to over 14.8 million UAH. 

Currently, the issue of choosing a preventive measure for the suspect is being resolved.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Khmelnytskyi region with operational support from the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police.

The sanction of part 2 of Article 242 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for up to 5 years of imprisonment or restriction of liberty.

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 guilty verdict of the court.