Donetsk forestry head to face trial for illegal logging scheme
The State Bureau of Investigation has completed an investigation into the case of the acting head of one of the Donetsk region's forestry departments, who is accused of taking bribes for "permits" to cut down trees. Law enforcement officials claim that he demanded from 10,000 to 20,000 hryvnias for one day of work.
This was reported by the territorial department of the State Bureau of Investigation in Kramatorsk on Facebook.
Investigators believe that the accused introduced a paid system for logging in a landscape park in the Donetsk region. In exchange for money, he promised not to respond to violations and allowed the harvesting of wood.
In particular, in December 2025, he refused a local resident the legal purchase of firewood, instead offering an "alternative" - unauthorized logging. For this, he demanded 10 thousand hryvnias per day of work. Having received the first 50 thousand hryvnias, the defendant increased the "tariff" to 20 thousand hryvnias per day and insisted on increasing the volume of logging.
The man was detained in February 2026 while receiving 100,000 hryvnias, according to law enforcement officials. During searches of his home and garage, live ammunition was also found.
The head of the forestry department will be tried for receiving unlawful benefits and extortion, as well as for illegal handling of weapons, Part 3 of Article 368, Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. If proven guilty, the man faces up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.
It was previously reported that the Prosecutor General's Office and the Department of Strategic Investigations exposed and dismantled a large-scale money laundering scheme on defense contracts.
