In Mykolaiv region, seven suspects will stand trial in a case of illegal tree felling worth 2.7 million
The indictment was forwarded to the court in the Pervomaiskyi District
Seven residents of the Myhiivska community established an illegal business for cutting and selling valuable tree species for personal enrichment. Police investigators have now completed the pre-trial investigation. The fate of the suspects will be decided by the court. They face up to seven years of imprisonment for the committed offenses.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement established that the criminal activity was initiated by a 36-year-old resident of the village of Lysa Hora in the Myhiivska community, who involved six fellow villagers aged from 30 to 39 years.
From November 2025 to March 2026 the accomplices systematically and unlawfully, without a special permit, cut down oak, honey locust and ash trees in the protective shelterbelts of the Pervomaiskyi district. They used chainsaws for this and mainly felled valuable tree species. The timber was then transported by vehicles with trailers to the household of the 36-year-old suspect, where the wood was sawn, sorted and prepared for sale. Sales were made among acquaintances and fellow villagers, as well as through online advertisements, and the proceeds were shared among themselves.
During sanctioned searches at the suspects’ residences and at locations where the timber was stored, law enforcement officers seized gasoline and electric saws, parts for them, axes, mobile phones, vehicles with trailers, and illegally harvested timber.
According to expert conclusions, the total amount of damage caused to the environment as a result of the illegal activity amounts to nearly 2.7 million hryvnias.
The police detained the suspects in the course of proceedings and informed them of suspicion of committing 15 counts of the crime provided for in ch. 2, 4 art. 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – illegal felling, transportation, storage, and sale of timber, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, which caused severe consequences.
Now, on the basis of the collected evidence, police investigators have completed the pre-trial investigation and sent the indictment to the Pervomaiska district prosecutor’s office, which forwarded it to the court for consideration on the merits.
The penalty under the article provides for imprisonment for up to seven years.
Note: pursuant to ch. 1 art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction. Pervomaiskyi District Police Department
Source: Mykolaiv Regional Police.
