The State Bureau of Investigation reported suspicion to the head of the “Forests of Ukraine” branch for extorting “tribute” from subordinates
DBR employees announced about the suspicion of the head of the forestry department of the “Central Forestry Office” branch of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”, who, under the threat of dismissal, forced subordinates to pay a percentage of the wood harvested by forestry every month.
In May 2025, the manager openly told his subordinates at a business meeting that they should give a percentage of the harvested products. The scheme looked like this: 5% of the actual procurement volume, multiplied by a thousand. The employees had to transfer the specified amounts to the chief or his deputy every month by the 15th.
One of the foresters refused to participate in the scheme and turned to the SBI. In July, investigators documented the first facts of the transfer of bribes. In August, the forester was supposed to hand over 60,000 hryvnias, but law enforcement officers detained the head of the forest department while receiving the second part of the “tribute” in the amount of 30,000 hryvnias.
Evidence of illegal activity was seized during the searches in offices, houses and cars of officials.
Currently, the head of forestry of the “Central Forestry Office” branch of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” has been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (receipt of illegal benefit in a large amount, by prior collusion by a group of persons). The sanction of this article provides for a penalty of up to 10 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The investigators establish a complete list of employees who were forced to pay “tribute”, as well as the amount that the person involved must compensate the state. Procedural management in the case is carried out by prosecutors of the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of the General Prosecutor’s Office.
