Lviv region: Over 28 fir trees were illegally cut down in the "Hays" nature reserve, resulting in a loss of over 2,5 million hryvnias, according to a forest ranger who has been accused.
In the Lviv region, police and prosecutors uncovered illegal logging of 28 fir trees in the "Gays" landscape reserve near the village of Dolinivka in the Stryi district. The environmental damage is estimated at over 2,5 million UAH. The forestry worker, who was performing his duties for 39 years, has been informed about a suspicion of official negligence.
Police officers, working with prosecutors from the Lviv region, uncovered illegal Christmas tree felling in the Smizhan forestry unit of the "Slavsk Forestry" branch of the State Forest Fund of Ukraine – on the territory of the local nature reserve, "Gaї". This was reported by October 7. The area is part of Ukraine's system of natural reserves, near the village of Dolynivka in the Stryi district.
According to the prosecutor's office, from February to April 2023, a 39-year-old acting forest ranger failed to properly perform his duties in protecting the forest on the territory entrusted to him: he did not take adequate measures to protect the forest from illegal logging, did not warn or record such activities, did not inspect areas where trees were destroyed, and did not identify and hold those responsible accountable.
As a result, currently unidentified individuals illegally cut down 28 fir trees, with a diameter ranging from 36 to 63 cm. The environmental damage caused has been estimated at over 2,5 million hryvnias. The forest ranger has been informed of suspicion of official negligence, which has resulted in serious consequences for the state's interests (part 2 of article 367 of the Criminal Code).