The Security Service of Ukraine documented the facts of illegal sale of wholesale shipments of timber, involving officials of the Khust and Yasinyansky state forestries.

Allegedly, representatives of the state-owned enterprise "Khust Forest Research Farm" set up unauthorized cutting down of valuable trees. Moreover, the raw material customers were local commercial structures.

According to experts, the state environmental fund lost more than UAH 8,500,000 (USD 314,815).

Within the framework of the criminal proceedings stipulated by Part 2 Art. 28 and Part 2 Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, three officials of the state enterprise were suspected of malversation.

The security personnel facilitated local businessmen to illegally cut and remove trees in Yasinyansky forestry and hunting farm. Additionally, illicit timber logging caused almost UAH 7,000,000 (USD 259,260) damages to the state.

Investigative and operational actions are ongoing to bring to justice all persons involved in illegal activities.

The exposing operation was carried out jointly with investigators of the Territorial Administration of the State Bureau of Investigations in Lviv city under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office of Zakarpattya region.