The protection of state interests in the field of land relations remains one of the key priorities of the prosecution. The return of illegally alienated plots not only ensures the preservation of particularly valuable soils and natural resources but also creates real opportunities for community development, filling local budgets, and restoring social justice.

Thus, under the procedural guidance of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor's Office, the former head of the State Geocadastre in the Khmelnytskyi region has been notified of suspicion of abuse of power and official position (part 2 of Article 28, part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation materials, he, together with a subordinate, illegally transferred 64 hectares of agricultural land with particularly valuable soils that belonged to an agricultural college into private ownership. The value of the plots amounts to over 3.6 million UAH. Thanks to the timely response of the prosecution, these lands have already been returned to the community's ownership.

Moreover, only during July-September, prosecutors filed lawsuits for the return of over 1000 hectares of land with a total value of 54.3 million UAH. Among them:

•   69 hectares, transferred without justification by decisions of government bodies;

•   100 hectares, used for purposes other than intended;

•   280 hectares, occupied without legal grounds;

•   525 hectares of forestry land;

•   12 hectares of protected natural areas;

•   plots of public development covering 4.5 hectares and valued at 24 million UAH, which were allocated without bidding.

In addition, lawsuits of a mandatory nature have been filed regarding the preservation of 923 hectares of land in the nature reserve fund, and claims have been made for the recovery of almost 1.9 million UAH of unjustly retained funds that communities lost due to illegal use of plots without registration of rights.

The prosecution will continue to respond decisively to any attempts of illegal alienation of state or communal land. The restoration of the rights of the state and communities is a fundamental condition for the development of regions and the preservation of Ukraine's strategic resources.