In Ternopil region, the SBU blocked a large-scale mining in Kremenets Mountains National park. The perpetrators daily exported dozens of tons of sand and stone, and sold it on the black market.

The SBU documented that five representatives of the local private company organized the illegal business. The perpetrators used excavators to remove the soil cover in the park area (almost eight hectares).

Allegedly, they gained over UAH 7 m. (USD 260,000) due to illegal mining. Such activity caused irreversible damage to the National park and environment. Experts are estimating the scale of destruction of the regional ecosystem.

Within the criminal proceeding, the SBU initiated investigation in order to prosecute those involved into illegal activity.

The operation was carried out by the SBU Office in Ternopil region jointly with the National Police under the supervision of the Kremenets District Prosecutor’s Office.