Ukraine Uncovers Major Timber Corruption Scheme: Political Leader and Forestry Officials Detained

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have dismantled a large-scale corruption network involved in the illegal sale of premium timber disguised as firewood. The operation, conducted jointly by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General (OGP), led to the detention of several high-ranking figures, including a regional political leader and state forestry executives.

The Corruption Scheme

According to the OGP, the criminal group orchestrated a scheme that caused millions in losses to the state. The suspects allegedly sold elite varieties of timber to business owners under the guise of standard firewood, bypassing mandatory open bidding procedures for lumber. To conceal the illicit trade, officials from the state forestry enterprise systematically falsified reporting documentation.

Investigators documented an instance where the suspects demanded a bribe of 1.3 million UAH from an entrepreneur in exchange for the shipment of nearly 200 cubic meters of high-value wood.

Key Suspects Identified

While official agencies have not publicly named the perpetrators, sources from Ukrainska Pravda report that the detainees include prominent figures in the Kharkiv region:

• Serhiy Ponomarenko, head of the Kharkiv regional branch of the "Batkivshchyna" political party.
• Oleksandr Lysenko, director of the "Slobozhansky Forest Office" branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine".
• Mykola Zhelnovach, head of the Gutyansky forestry.

The network also involved two intermediaries, one of whom reportedly holds the status of an honorary consul of a foreign state in Kharkiv.

Arrests and Legal Proceedings

The sting operation culminated on March 25, when four members of the group—two forestry officials and two intermediaries—were caught red-handed while accepting the final bribe installment of 320,000 UAH. Subsequent searches yielded mobile phones and documents confirming their illegal activities.

All five suspects have been served notices of suspicion under Ukraine's Criminal Code for misappropriation of property through abuse of office (Part 5 of Article 191) and accepting a bribe (Part 3 of Article 368). If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison along with the confiscation of property.

The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv has already ordered pre-trial detention for four of the suspects, with the option of posting bail. The bail amounts were set at 2.66 million UAH for the branch director, 1.66 million UAH for the forestry director, and 1.49 million and 1.33 million UAH for the two intermediaries. A hearing to determine the preventive measure for the fifth suspect is scheduled for the near future.