Nearly 700,000 UAH worth of trees were cut down illegally, according to the State Ecological Inspection's report.

The Environmental Protection Agency of the Capital Region reports the illegal felling of 161 trees in the Bucha district, resulting in a loss of nearly 700,000 UAH. The suspects face the possibility of imprisonment.

Specialists from the State Environmental Inspection of the Capital Region have been involved in the pre-trial investigation conducted by investigators from the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Kyiv region, with operational support from the Department of Activities Related to Hazardous Materials of the National Police.

Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, forest masters from the Makariv forestry branch of "Makariv Forest Economy" State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" have been suspected of official negligence (Part 2, Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The investigation revealed that the forest masters failed to carry out the necessary checks regarding logging. Due to their negligence, a significantly larger area of forested land was cleared.

As a result of their inadequate performance of duties related to forest protection, the suspects allowed for the illegal logging of timber on the territory assigned to them in the Bucha district. Consequently, unidentified individuals felled 161 trees, causing damage amounting to nearly 700,000 UAH.

The suspects face a penalty of imprisonment for up to five years, with the possibility of being deprived of the right to hold certain positions or engage in specific activities for up to three years, as well as a fine ranging from 250 to 750 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens, or without such a fine.

According to the first part of Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and confirmed by a guilty verdict of the court.