Poltava region: SBU blocks illegal subsoil development worth USD millions, on the territory of the state company

Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine in the framework of a complex of measures to protect the land fund of the country blocked the illegal mining of mineral resources, which led to the depletion of land resources in the Poltava region, on the territory of the state enterprise.

Special service operatives determined that the director of idling state agricultural company concluded a fictitious agreement with the merchants allegedly to carry out works for the clearance of 6 ha land site.  Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine found that, in fact, the merchants illegally, without obtaining special permits, removed the fertile layer of soil and were extracting loam on the territory of the state enterprise. Subsequently, the extracted product was illegally sold to companies specializing in the construction and reconstruction of highways.

According to the experts, actions of the criminals resulted in the state suffering losses of over UAH 240,000,000 (USD 8,571,500).

SBU materials helped the National Police to initiate criminal proceeding under Part 3 Article 191 and Part 1 Article 240 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The urgent investigations aimed at bringing all group members to responsibility and repayment of losses are under way.

SBU Press Centre