In the framework of measures for the protection of natural resources, SBU has documented the fact of the extraction of sand on an industrial scale in Korostyshiv district of Zhytomyr region.

Allegedly, the former deputy of the Zhytomyr City Council and the director of the local private commercial structure organized illegal business to develop the subsoil and extract sand mixture on land plots located outside the Strizhiv Village Council of Korostyshiv district. The illegal activities were carried out under the guise of performing work within the framework of the construction contract for the creation of a water basin for fisheries needs.

The law enforcement found that the attackers voluntarily removed soil cover on five land plots of 9.3 hectares. Afterwards, they, using heavy excavation equipment, began mining sand without any permission documents. The company sold for cash illegally extracted sand mixture to individuals and commercial entities of Zhytomyr and Korostyshiv district at market prices in violation of tax law.

The engineering-environmental examinations concluded that businessmen managed to extract 840,000 cubic meters of sand for UAH 182,000,000 (USD 6,740,741). Moreover, the unauthorized mining caused UAH 204,000,000 (USD 7,555,556) damages to the state.

The ex-deputy was served a notice of suspicion of committing the crime under Part 4 Art.240 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The issue of seizure property belonging to a suspect on property rights in order to compensate the state is being resolved.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

The documenting of the deal was conducted by the SBU Office in Zhytomyr region jointly with the Korostyshiv Police Department of the Main Directorate of National Police under the legal supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Zhytomyr region.