Evidence of the destruction of beech, sycamore, ash, and other valuable tree species was discovered in the Dragiv Forest District in the Khust region as early as the spring of 2025. Since the foresters refused to voluntarily compensate for the environmental damage, the funds were recovered through the Commercial Court following a lawsuit filed by the prosecutor’s office.
In Transcarpathia, a court ordered the state-owned specialized commercial enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” to reimburse the state more than 1.6 million hryvnias for environmental damage caused by illegal logging, part of which is part of the nature reserve fund.
The Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced that the prosecutors’ claim had been granted.
Inspection at the Dragiv Forest District and Logging in a Protected Area
Evidence of the illegal destruction of forest stands was documented as early as April 2025 during two unscheduled inspections on the territory of the Dragiv Forest District in the Khust District:
- Extent of destruction: Inspectors identified and documented 37 illegally felled trees of valuable and hardwood species—beech, ash, alder, sycamore, and hornbeam;
- Violation of conservation regulations: An aggravating factor was that some of these old-growth trees were cut down directly within the boundaries of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, where strict conservation regulations are in place and commercial logging is prohibited;
- Damage Assessment: Environmental inspection specialists calculated the total amount of damage caused to the natural environment, which amounted to nearly 1.6 million hryvnias.
Enforcement through the Commercial Court
Since the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” (as the permanent forest user responsible for the protection and preservation of the forest resources within its designated territory) refused to voluntarily compensate the state for the damages caused, the Khust District Prosecutor’s Office filed a corresponding lawsuit with the court.
The Commercial Court of Zakarpattia Oblast fully upheld the prosecutors’ position and ruled to enforce the collection of over 1.6 million hryvnias from the enterprise in favor of the state. The court decision will become final after the expiration of the statutory period for filing an appeal.
