Illegal Mining Schemes Uncovered in Five Regions: State Losses Exceed 1.5 Billion Hryvnias.

Authorities Expose Illegal Mineral Extraction Operations

According to Novyny.live: Law enforcement agencies have uncovered illegal mining schemes across five regions of Ukraine, resulting in state losses of over 1.5 billion hryvnias. Nine suspects have been formally notified of charges related to the unauthorized extraction of natural resources. This case highlights ongoing efforts to curb resource theft that undermines both the economy and the environment.

Scale of the Illegal Extraction

According to the investigation, the volume of illegally extracted resources exceeded 450,000 cubic meters. Granite accounted for the largest share, with more than 375,000 cubic meters mined unlawfully, causing over 1.25 billion hryvnias in damages. Additionally, more than 60,000 cubic meters of groundwater were illegally extracted using 30 wells for centralized water supply, leading to financial losses exceeding 12.6 million hryvnias.

At least 12 blasting operations were carried out during the illegal activities, underscoring the severity of the violations.

Ruslan Kravchenko, a law enforcement official, stated: 'The subsoil belongs to the Ukrainian people, and violations of the law in this area inevitably lead to accountability, regardless of the positions or status of those involved.'

This case underscores the persistent challenge of illegal resource extraction in Ukraine, which remains a serious threat to the country's ecology and economy. Combating such schemes is a key part of the strategy to ensure sustainable development and protect state-owned natural resources. Law enforcement agencies continue to work on identifying and prosecuting those responsible for these crimes, aiming to strengthen the rule of law in the mining sector.