Position: Head of the Sarny Forestry Department of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.
Sphere of corrupt activity: forestry.
Region of corruption activity: Sarny city, Rivne region.
Qualification: Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obtaining an unlawful benefit in an especially large amount, by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, combined with extortion).
Status: detained.
The plot of the case: law enforcement officers exposed the head of the Sarny Forestry Department of the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" in receiving more than 3 million UAH in bribes. In exchange for the money, the official promised entrepreneurs not to hinder deforestation and to help them win tenders. This was reported on August 27 by the press services of the State Bureau of Investigation and the Prosecutor General's Office.
According to the investigation, the head of the Sarny Forestry Department demanded a bribe from a representative of commercial entities that had concluded a contract with the state-owned enterprise for the provision of logging services. Thus, the official set the amount that they were to pay throughout 2025. In May, it was 40 UAH for each cubic meter of felled wood, and in July it increased to 60 UAH.
Law enforcement officers are not disclosing the name of the detainee, however, according to information from the Rivne24 publication, it is Vasyl Shpakovsky, who has been the director of the Sarna Forestry Branch since January 2024, and before being appointed to the position, he worked as the chief engineer of this forestry enterprise.
The total amount of tribute for three months of work of the contractor was 3 million UAH. For this money, the suspect guaranteed recognition of the entrepreneurs as winners according to the results of the next tender procurements. He also promised trouble-free approval of the acts of acceptance and transfer of works and services under future contracts for the provision of logging services
In case of refusal, the head of the forestry department threatened to make it impossible to provide logging services. He also referred to the support of other high-ranking officials of the Polissya Forest Office branch. In the first half of August, he received UAH 500,000 in compensation, and the other day the remaining tranche - UAH 2.5 million.
During searches in the suspect's car, the entire amount of bribe he was keeping for distribution among other participants in the deal, who are currently being identified, was found.
Currently, the head of the forestry department of the "Polish Forest Office" branch has been charged with suspicion under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obtaining unlawful benefit in an especially large amount, by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, combined with extortion). The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: being identified.
Assets: in the declaration for 2024, the branch director submitted information about a residential building of 222.2 m², 50% of which he has owned since 2015. It is located in Krupovoe, Dubrovychchyna, and at the time of purchase cost 145,158 hryvnias. The Shpakovskis have no other real estate.
Vasyl Shpakovsky has had a 2012 LONCIN LX125-71A motorcycle since 2013, a 2000 BMW 530D since 2014, and a 2015 VIPER V200F-2 motorcycle since 2017 for 7,950 hryvnias. The official's wife Olena purchased a DAF XF 105.410 truck, 2008 model, in 2017, a DAF XF 105.460 truck, 2008 model, for 147,888 hryvnias, and a SCHMITZ S01 semi-trailer, 2001 model, for 101,795 hryvnias, in 2020, a DAF XF 105.410 truck, 2008 model, for 16,500 hryvnias, and a SCHMITZ SD 22ECS semi-trailer, 2006 model, for 15,600 hryvnias, in 2021, a DAF XF 440FT truck, 2015 model, for 392,900 hryvnias, and a KOGEL S24 semi-trailer, 2011 model, for 64,200 hryvnias, in In 2022, a KOEGEL S3D-4S22EP1 semi-trailer, manufactured in 2005, for 10 thousand hryvnias, in 2023, a KRONE SD semi-trailer, manufactured in 2014, for 285 thousand hryvnias, and a DAF XF 460 FT truck, manufactured in 2013, for 480 thousand hryvnias.
In 2024, as a branch director, Vasyl Shpakovsky earned UAH 1,828,028. His wife, Olena Shpakovsky, earned UAH 7,155,700 in cash. Vasyl Shpakovsky has UAH 150,000 in cash, USD 3,469, and UAH 2,823 in his bank account.
Persons who should have reacted: in the case of Shpakovsky, law enforcement officers reacted in a timely manner.
Scandals: There is no information in open sources about other scandals in which Shpakovsky would appear.
Sources:
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/809d003c-b914-4877-96d8-196022ae144e