The Prosecutor's Office of the Poltava region has sent an indictment to the court regarding an organized group that illegally cut down valuable tree species (oak, acacia, maple) without any permits. 

According to the investigation, in the fall of 2024, a resident of the Poltava district organized a group of five local residents. They illegally cut down valuable tree species (oak, acacia, maple) without any permits.

The felled timber was sold for personal enrichment.

During searches of the suspects, chainsaws, tires, chains, and other evidence were seized. The damages to the Chutivka village and Martynivka rural councils amounted to over 3.6 million UAH. The prosecutor filed a claim for damages.

The actions of the accused were qualified under part 2, 3 of Article 27, part 3 of Article 28, part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal logging in forest belts and on the territory of the nature reserve fund, their transportation, storage, and sale, committed repeatedly by an organized group, causing severe consequences).

The pre-trial investigation and operational support in the criminal proceedings were carried out by investigators and employees of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police and the Criminal Investigation Department in the Poltava region. 

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 guilty verdict of the court.