Large-scale scheme of sand extraction from the Danube caused 182 million in damages, case sent to court
Kyiv • UNN
The organizers illegally extracted 18,000 cubic meters of sand for the construction of the terminal. Directors of companies and the mayor of a city in Odesa region are involved in the scheme.
Sand was illegally extracted from the Danube for years for the construction of a private terminal. As reported by the Prosecutor General's Office, the damages amounted to over UAH 182 million, and the case has been sent to court, UNN reports.
Environmental prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office have sent to court a case regarding large-scale illegal sand extraction from the bottom in the waters of the "Ust-Dunaisk" seaport.
Details
According to the investigation, during 2023-2025, the activity continued systematically and caused over UAH 182 million in damages to the environment.
The investigation established that the organizers of the scheme were the directors of two transport companies. The mayor of one of the cities in Odesa region is also involved in the illegal activity, who, according to law enforcement officers, facilitated its cover-up. The scheme involved the director of the enterprise, a construction engineer, and a state registrar.
In total, over 18 thousand cubic meters of sand were extracted from the bottom of the Danube without permits.
The extracted sand was used to reduce the cost of building a private port terminal.
Prosecutors accuse the defendants of illegal extraction of minerals, legalization of property, unauthorized construction, document forgery, and unauthorized interference with automated systems.
Also, two lawsuits from the prosecutor's office in the interests of the state against the enterprise regarding the demolition of the illegally built terminal are being considered in court.