Mayor of Vylkove Sentenced for Danube Sand Theft, Causing 182 Million in Damages.

Vylkove Mayor Found Guilty

According to Novyny.live: A court has convicted Matviy Ivanov, the mayor of Vylkove, for aiding the illegal extraction of sand from the Danube River. The ruling states that Ivanov illegally authorized the use of 2.8 hectares of land on Promyslova Street in Vylkove, resulting in significant financial harm to the state. This case highlights ongoing challenges in regulating Ukraine's natural resources, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas.

Case Details

According to the case file, the companies 'Dunayska Havan' and 'Viktori Port' obtained the permits for the sand extraction. The total volume of illegally mined sand reached 18,092.44 cubic meters. The financial damage inflicted on the state was assessed at 181,802,511.81 hryvnias.

Matviy Ivanov pleaded guilty and received a three-year prison sentence, suspended with a one-year probationary period. As part of the verdict, he is required to register with probation services and cannot travel abroad without permission. Once the sentence takes full legal effect, he plans to transfer 100,000 hryvnias to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Eight other individuals have also been named as suspects in the case.

This prosecution underscores systemic issues with the oversight of natural resources in Ukraine. Illegal sand mining not only depletes state revenue but can also cause severe, long-term damage to river ecosystems. The court's decision against Ivanov and the other suspects may serve as a warning to other officials about the legal consequences of violating environmental and land-use laws.