Zhytomyr Forestry Engineer Suspected of Bribery

A 42-year-old forest protection and conservation engineer at the "Capital Forest Office" branch of the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" is suspected of bribery. Law enforcement officers recorded two facts when the engineer, according to the investigation, took bribes. The Capital Forest Office in Suspilne said that they are ready to cooperate with the investigation.

The press services of the Zhytomyr Region Police and the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor's Office reported that a 42-year-old engineer was detained for taking a bribe.

The man was part of a raid group patrolling the territory of several forest departments in the Korosten district. According to Anna Ostrovskaya, a spokeswoman for the Zhytomyr regional prosecutor's office, the engineer demanded a monthly bribe of $500 from one of the entrepreneurs in exchange for not interfering with the work of a timber transportation business and not carrying out inspections.

At the end of August 2025, the suspect received the first such payment in Ovruch. He told the entrepreneur to inform in advance about the transport used to transport the timber so as not to stop this transport in the future. On September 25, the engineer again received a bribe of $500 from the entrepreneur. Trying to escape from law enforcement officers, he threw the money out of the car, but law enforcement officers detained him, and the money was seized.

According to the spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, prosecutors have informed the engineer of suspicion of extortion and bribery, committed repeatedly. The suspect has now been given a preventive measure with the alternative of posting bail.

As a reminder, NABU has completed the case of the embezzlement of UAH 15 million from Ukrzaliznytsia.