Prosecutors have sent indictments to the court regarding 12 participants of two criminal organizations that systematically carried out illegal logging in the forests of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

The pre-trial investigation established that the organizers were two brothers – one of them is a local deputy, and the other is the "overseer" of the shadow economy in the Pavlohrad and Synelnykove districts.

Using their connections, they established a large-scale scheme for the illegal felling of valuable tree species.

They involved ten local residents who had experience in the logging industry in their illegal activities.

The felling of oak and ash was carried out without any permits, and the timber was transported to rented warehouses and processed.

Subsequently, the finished products were sold to private individuals and businesses throughout the region.

As a result of the illegal actions of the "black loggers," the environment suffered damages amounting to nearly 4 million UAH.

During the course of 30 authorized searches, law enforcement officers seized timber, chainsaws, axes, passenger and cargo vehicles, financial documentation, and cash.

The actions of the accused have been classified under Part 1, 2 of Article 255, Part 4 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They face up to twelve years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The pre-trial investigation was conducted by investigators from the investigative department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the region and the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigations located in Poltava. The prosecutorial oversight is provided by the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Note: According to 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 established by a court verdict.