Illegal export of timber to Moldova blocked in Bukovyna – PGO

Prosecutors from Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor’s Office, together with detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), the National Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine SBU), have stopped a large-scale scheme to illegally export timber to Moldova, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) press service reported.

"The investigation established that the organizer, the head of a private enterprise, purchased unaccounted timber in 2024-2025, registered it with forged documents of origin, and exported it abroad. Entrepreneurs, forestry workers, and drivers who facilitated the transportation of illegally harvested timber were involved in this activity," the Telegram channel reported.

On April 22, 2026, 26 searches were conducted in Chernivtsi region at woodworking enterprises, warehouses and office premises, vehicles, and at the residences of those involved.

"Approximately 1,000 cubic meters of timber (round logs), shipping documents, and identification tags were seized. Cash was also seized: over EUR 48,000, $4,500, and over UAH 500,000, as well as mobile phones, dashcams, and rough recordings. The total value of the seized items was approximately UAH 10 million," the prosecutor’s office reported.

Two heads of private enterprises in the forestry and wood processing industries have been served with notices of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 201-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

All participants in the scheme are being identified.