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Over the past two years, as a result of reorganization and structural simplification, the company’s workforce has decreased by nearly 10% and currently stands at 21.5 thousand employees. The reductions primarily affected administrative positions, including a large number of managerial roles in forestry enterprises.

In 2024, 28% of the payroll fund in the forestry sector was spent on maintaining administrative personnel. Today, this figure has been reduced to just 17%. Last year alone, nearly half a billion hryvnias were saved on management salaries.

The additional funds have been redirected to increase wages for production staff working directly in the forest. Employee motivation has improved, the outflow of specialists has stopped, and young professionals have started joining the company.

Particular attention was given to low-resource regions in the south and east, where forestry workers previously received very low wages. Currently, pay levels across the company have been equalized and now depend on the volume of work performed rather than the value of local resources.

As of Q1 2026, the average salaries in the branches of SE “Forests of Ukraine” are as follows:
• Forester — UAH 46,500
• Assistant Forester — UAH 38,300
• Forest Ranger — UAH 33,500
• Logging Operations Supervisor — UAH 35,800
• Timber Transport Driver — UAH 41,000
• Tractor Operator — UAH 36,500
• Feller — UAH 39,700
• Logger — UAH 31,600

The increase in the payroll fund for production staff has led to a rise in the company’s average salary from UAH 24,000 in 2024 to UAH 38,000 in 2026.

Over the past week, Telegram channels and media outlets have been spreading publications about the alleged critical condition of SFE “Forests of Ukraine” due to multi-billion debt. This narrative has been fabricated by individuals who fail to understand that at the end of each quarter the enterprise accrues significant tax liabilities — VAT, corporate income tax, and a share of net profit — which are paid in the following reporting period.

In particular, in the first quarter of 2026, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” transferred UAH 4 billion to the state budget.

The enterprise also has current obligations to contractors for work completed over the past month, including logging, transportation, and related services. These obligations are fulfilled on time: SFE “Forests of Ukraine” has no overdue payables to its counterparties.

As of January 1, 2026, the company’s financial stability ratio (equity / long-term and current liabilities) stood at 1.72. This is an exceptionally strong indicator, demonstrating the enterprise’s independence from external financial support.

The company fulfilled 98% of its contractual obligations for timber supply in the first quarter, excluding cancellations initiated by buyers themselves.

Today, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” is an example of highly stable operations and a responsible approach to fulfilling its obligations to clients and partners.

All other claims in the mentioned publications are equally false and absurd. These materials show clear signs of being commissioned, are distributed solely for money, and are part of a coordinated PR campaign

SFE “Forests of Ukraine” continues its Memorial Forests initiative — a living tribute to our colleagues who gave their lives for Ukraine.

Before being mobilized, Ruslan Balia worked as a forest ranger in the Chalivske forestry in the Poltava region. He dedicated nearly 20 years to forestry. A true professional, he deeply loved his work and knew every part of the forest under his care. The forest was his calling.

In 2024, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as a grenadier in an assault unit and held the rank of junior sergeant. On January 8, 2025, he was killed in action.

Memorial Forests are places of silence and gratitude — living symbols of remembrance for those who fought and died for Ukraine’s independence. Every tree planted carries the memory of a person who lived for the forest and gave their life for their country.

To honour Ruslan Balia, his wife and sons, Head of SFE “Forests of Ukraine” Yurii Bolokhovets, students of Tereshky Lyceum, colleagues, demobilized employees, and representatives of the Ukrainian Foresters’ Union gathered to plant this symbolic forest.

In the Chalivske forestry, where Ruslan worked, foresters planted pine, birch, and viburnum seedlings across 1.2 hectares.

This spring, Memorial Forests are being created across all regions of Ukraine:

In the Rivne region — in Kostopil forestry — a Memorial Forest was planted in honour of fallen colleague Vadym Pliushch, who worked as a forestry engineer and was deeply dedicated to his profession.

In the Zhytomyr region, a Memorial Forest honours forester Valerii Zander. It was planted in the Zvyahel forestry — the area that suffered the greatest losses among forestry workers.

In the Chernivtsi region, a Memorial Forest was created in memory of Oleksandr Storonskyi, who defended Ukraine for two years in the most intense combat zones.

In southern Ukraine, in the Zahradiivske forestry (Kherson region), a Memorial Forest honours forester-hero Vladyslav Vasylychenko. This site has become a symbol of renewal — where there was once war, new life is now growing.

In the Chernihiv region, a Memorial Forest was dedicated to our colleague Andrii Trykhlib, who was killed in December 2023 defending Ukraine.

The planting of Memorial Forests continues, and soon the updated map of these forests will be available. More information about the project can be found on our website.

We create these forests so that memory lives not only in words, but in the land, in the trees, and in the silence of the forest. So that every seedling reminds us: the price of our freedom is the lives of people who were part of one great forestry family.

A forest restoration event took place in the Novosanzharske forestry of State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine,” aimed at recovering areas affected by a large-scale natural disaster. The tree planting brought together company employees, the Head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration Vitalii Diakivnych, the State Emergency Service team in the Poltava region, members of the local community, and students from a school forestry unit.

During the event, participants also reviewed new specialized equipment purchased by State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” to strengthen wildfire protection: a new fire truck, an all-terrain pickup equipped with a firefighting module, and a tractor with a plow for creating firebreaks.

The Head of State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine,” Yurii Bolokhovets, recognized forestry workers and firefighters who were the first to respond and defend the forest.

As a reminder, in September 2024, the Poltava region faced the most масштабний forest fire in recent years, which was classified as an emergency situation. The fire damaged 2,670 hectares of forest plantations in the Malopereshchepynske and Novosanzharske forestries. More than 430 personnel and 85 units of equipment were involved in firefighting efforts.

“We fought the fire for more than 12 days. The area of spread kept increasing and became more complicated due to weather conditions and strong winds, which caused crown fires. Thanks to the coordinated work of our rescuers and foresters, we managed to extinguish this large-scale fire,” said Serhii Slavko, Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service in the Poltava region.

Large-scale forest restoration will begin in autumn 2026 after the completion of the environmental impact assessment procedure. Currently, State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” is carrying out localized restoration on areas up to 1 hectare.

Instead of monocultures, participants planted a mixed forest on the site, including Scots pine seedlings with a closed root system and common oak. In the future, this will help grow forests that are more resistant to fires and pests.

Overall, full restoration of all burned areas is planned to be completed over the coming years.

This planting material was grown last year in our forest nurseries. It includes seedlings of the main forest-forming species — Scots pine, Pallas pine, pedunculate oak, as well as European larch and silver fir. All container-grown seedlings were cultivated taking into account the needs of different regions.

To ensure that the seedlings grown last year reach the areas designated for afforestation this spring, they have undergone a full cultivation cycle: from sowing seeds into special trays to forming a strong root system in a nutrient-rich substrate.

First, forest seed material is processed in cone-drying facilities. The extracted seeds are then cleaned and calibrated. After that, they pass through a sowing line and are placed into trays filled with a nutrient-rich substrate.

The seeded trays are moved to greenhouses for three to four weeks, where the required temperature is maintained. To support seedling development, an automated irrigation system operates, providing mechanized watering according to a pre-set schedule.

After germination in the greenhouses, the seedlings are transferred to growing fields — specially equipped open-ground areas where they adapt further and prepare for planting directly in the forest. In autumn, foresters insulate the trays with cassettes placed outdoors using protective material around the perimeter, which stabilizes the temperature in the root zone.

Continuous and proper care allowed the planting material to be fully preserved throughout the cold winter period until spring. As a result, we obtained high-quality seedlings with improved genetic and breeding characteristics, high survival rates, and resistance to adverse weather conditions.

Transportation from forest nurseries to afforestation sites has already begun and will continue throughout the entire forest regeneration campaign.

Container-grown seedlings tolerate transportation over long distances well. The main reason is that their roots remain in a special substrate that retains moisture and protects the root system from drying out, mechanical damage, and temperature fluctuations.

This year, our forest seed and breeding centers plan to grow 13 million container-grown seedlings. Sowing takes place in several stages during the spring. Some of the seedlings will be used during the autumn planting campaign, while others will be planted in the spring of the following year. Currently, sowing and the placement of trays in greenhouses are underway in the nurseries.

Starting in 2027, the branch “Forest Reproductive Resources” plans to significantly increase the number of container-grown seedlings to 19 million, and in 2028 — to at least 25.4 million.

This will be made possible by expanding sowing areas. For this purpose, 20 growing fields and 8 greenhouses are planned to be constructed in different forest nurseries.

Thanks to this expansion, our forest nurseries will also be able to significantly broaden the range of tree species grown as container seedlings.

The winter of 2026 has been a real challenge for Ukrainians. Constant attacks by Russian forces, destroyed infrastructure, severe frosts… At moments like these, you truly realise how important it is to stand by one another and offer support.

That is why the Government of Yuliia Svyrydenko launched a targeted assistance programme for those who need it most. The largest state-owned enterprises joined the initiative — and SE “Forests of Ukraine” is among them.

The organisation of the process and the formation of the beneficiary lists were ensured by the Department of Social Protection of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, while the team of the Eastern Branch of SE “Forests of Ukraine” made sure that the warmth of these packages reached people as quickly as possible.

For us, this is not just a humanitarian initiative. It is about care. About warmth that can be passed from hand to hand. About the feeling that you are not alone.

The “warm packages” will be delivered to people with limited mobility, citizens facing difficult life circumstances, persons with disabilities, and elderly people living alone — those for whom this winter has been especially hard.

The first batch of aid has already been delivered to the residents of Zaporizhzhia — a city of strong and unbreakable people. And in every package there are not only essential items, but also a part of our gratitude, respect and sincere support.

Together we will endure. Together we will keep each other warm!

The participants of the meeting noted the successful completion of certification audits at the beginning of last year under the conditions of the reorganization of the enterprise’s structure and the full-scale war. The forest districts ensured compliance with FSC requirements in challenging circumstances.

As a result for 2025:

SE “Forests of Ukraine” managed to almost fully restore FSC certification after a large-scale structural reorganization (FSC certificates were restored for more than 97% of the previously certified areas). Preparation for the certification of some forest districts in the South was initiated for the first time.

Representatives of SE “Forests of Ukraine” actively participated in trainings, educational events, and webinars conducted by FSC Ukraine experts. Forestry professionals mastered best global environmental protection practices and learned how to apply FSC requirements in their day-to-day management activities.

Forest districts can actively apply a clear mechanism for excluding territories contaminated with explosive hazards from the scope of certification without losing certification status for the remaining areas.

A joint media tour based at the branch “Carpathian Forest Office” made it possible to demonstrate real practices of responsible forest management.

“Modern challenges facing the forestry sector and society as a whole require greater efforts and coordination in finding appropriate solutions. We value cooperation with SE ‘Forests of Ukraine’ as a reliable partner in promoting responsible forest management. We have an excellent opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues related to communicating and раскрыти values of FSC for all stakeholders while taking into account the balance of their interests,” noted Pavlo Kravets, National Representative of FSC in Ukraine.

Representatives of FSC Ukraine reminded of the Government’s decision to increase the area of certified forests by 10% in 2025–2027. Expanding certified areas will contribute to the implementation of the State Forest Management Strategy until 2035, as FSC certification ensures responsible forest use in line with environmental, social, and economic requirements.

Priority cooperation plans of SE “Forests of Ukraine” and FSC for 2026:

– Work in the field of forest certification with forest districts that have territories potentially contaminated with explosive hazards;

– Implementation of FSC certification regulatory support in the context of EUDR requirements;

– Joint dialogue with all stakeholders: environmentalists, communities, and authorities to prevent conflict situations;

– Advantages of FSC international membership for the forestry sector of Ukraine.

“I would like to sincerely thank every member of the FSC Ukraine team for promoting responsible forest management in Ukraine. Our ambitious goal is to ensure 100% certification of the enterprise’s managed areas. Everyone is committed to constructive work,” emphasized Yurii Bolokhovets, Head of SE “Forests of Ukraine”.

The government’s Made in Ukraine policy, led by Yuliia Svyrydenko, comprises around fifteen programs aimed at developing Ukrainian producers. In 2025, 72,000 Ukrainian enterprises benefited from state support.

“Forests of Ukraine” is ready to contribute to supporting domestic production.

We propose increasing the investment plan of SE “Forests of Ukraine” for 2026 to UAH 4.1 billion. Of this amount, UAH 2.1 billion is for goods and services that can be supplied by Ukrainian manufacturers. This was announced today by the company’s head, Yurii Bolokhovets.

We will start with the procurement of firefighting equipment. UAH 380 million, or 95% of the planned funds, can remain within the Ukrainian economy. Ukraine produces almost everything needed for fire prevention and response — from large fire engines and modules, video monitoring towers to water tanks, ploughs for mineralized firebreaks, and protective clothing.

Investments in reforestation equipment amount to UAH 80 million. Most of the required tools (disc harrows, mulchers, seeders, etc.) can be supplied by Ukrainian manufacturers.

Unfortunately, modern logging machinery (harvesters, forwarders, skidders, etc.) is not manufactured in Ukraine. We plan to deliver this equipment directly, without intermediaries, from manufacturing plants in European countries. At the same time, we are ready to purchase Ukrainian-made trailers and semi-trailers, as well as low-bed trailers for transporting special equipment, totaling over UAH 100 million.

More than UAH 621 million has been allocated this year for the construction of forest roads. Roads mean increased harvesting volumes, improved fire prevention, and reduced logistics costs. The work is carried out either by the enterprise’s own teams or by Ukrainian contractors using local (!) materials — crushed stone, gravel-sand mixtures, cement, and more. All of this is Ukrainian production!

An important area of the company’s development is the expansion of a network of modern forest seed centers, which enable the production of world-class seedlings and significantly improve the efficiency of reforestation efforts. The investment volume is UAH 270 million, of which 90% comprises goods and services offered by Ukrainian manufacturers.

Next month, the Procurement Department of SE “Forests of Ukraine” plans to hold a Supplier Day, presenting the company’s investment programs and planned procurements for 2026–2027 to the business community. We expect feedback on technical specifications, potential “barriers,” and the level of competition.

Our goal is maximum transparency, openness, and predictability in procurement, strengthening trust in public procurement, ensuring equal competitive conditions, and expanding the pool of potential participants.

Clearing these areas using methods applied to agricultural land is not feasible. Manual demining would take decades and require tens of billions in funding.

Janne Harjunpää, a member of the Supervisory Board of SE «Forests of Ukraine» and Chair of the Audit Committee, proposes an innovative approach to addressing this challenge.

The approach involves the use of remote-controlled harvesters to carry out forestry operations in damaged and hazardous areas, preparing the land for subsequent mechanical demining and the restoration of forest stands. The outcome would be the creation of healthy and safe forests.

Applying this approach would make it possible to clear significant areas within a few years. Otherwise, mined forests will remain a constant threat to local communities and a source of large-scale forest fires.

A coordination meeting was held at Forests of Ukraine with the participation of representatives of the State Emergency Service and the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine to discuss a roadmap for implementing a pilot project.

Key issues included the development of a regulatory framework that would allow forestry operations in mined areas using specialized equipment, as well as the attraction of grant funding and the adaptation of harvesting machinery.

According to Janne Harjunpää, the project has strong potential for support from international donors. Global manufacturers are ready to assist with adapting the equipment, and there is support from the relevant ministry regarding the regulatory framework.

Importantly, this approach goes beyond demining alone. It represents a comprehensive solution that combines safety, cost efficiency, risk reduction, and economic value creation through the safe use of forest resources and the long-term restoration of forests. As a result, Ukraine has an opportunity to implement a project unprecedented in global practice.

We have received the financial results of SE “Forests of Ukraine” for 2025, which allow the company’s performance to be assessed on the basis of objective figures rather than subjective judgments.

As forecast, revenue reached UAH 29.9 billion, profit before tax amounted to UAH 8.4 billion, and profitability stood at 23% – several times (!) higher than in previous years. A total of UAH 15.8 billion in taxes was paid: 44% of all revenues were transferred to the state budget, the highest share in the forestry and wood-processing sector.

For perhaps the first time since independence, billions in profits from timber sales have not been dissipated through shadow schemes or divided among officials and intermediaries, but have been fully directed to the budget. This is an indisputable fact, as figures do not lie.

The growth in performance is largely the result of de-shadowing. Never before has the timber sales system in the forestry sector been so transparent. SE “Forests of Ukraine” now publicly discloses information on every (!) exchange transaction: who contracted what volume of timber and at what price. Lists of rejected contracts are also published. We are not aware of any European country with such a level of transparency.

However, the potential has not yet been exhausted – there is every chance to continue growth in 2026. We are determined to offer the market the largest volume of forest products since the start of the full-scale war.

We expect an additional one million cubic meters due to the acceleration of forest management planning approvals. Positive changes are already being felt. Another one million cubic meters is expected as a result of deregulating permitting procedures. Amendments to the regulatory framework are being prepared, but the necessary decisions have unfortunately not yet been adopted.

From a technical standpoint, the enterprise is ready to increase harvesting volumes. A process has begun to procure an unprecedented amount of specialized equipment: harvesters, forwarders, skidders, tractors, trailers, and timber transportation equipment. We are working to at least double this year’s investment plan in order to significantly accelerate harvesting operations.

Last year, the company moved 100% of harvesting service procurements to the Prozorro system. However, due to a shortage of personnel, contractors often fail to complete work on time. Therefore, across Ukraine we are forming additional in-house crews and opening hundreds of new vacancies.

At the same time, we never forget: if you take from the forest, you must invest in it. That is why no less significant investments this year are being directed toward forest protection, conservation, and reforestation.

What the enterprise inherited from former forestry units was mostly obsolete equipment – hundreds of fire stations filled with outdated scrap metal. In the south, almost nothing remained at all. We have succeeded in fully equipping all forest fire stations of SE “Forests of Ukraine” with modern tools and equipment: from protective clothing, backpack fire extinguishers, and communications equipment to mobile fire-fighting modules.

Last year, for the first time, we began purchasing modern large-scale fire-fighting vehicles that had not been renewed since Soviet times. The first nine vehicles have already been delivered, with another nine planned in the near future.

Since 2023, in the most fire-prone locations, the enterprise has created 150 (!) modern recreational sites for safe public use. In 2026, we plan to establish 50 more. This recreation program has saved the state thousands of hectares of forest. The experience of SE “Forests of Ukraine” is being adopted by foresters in other European countries, where most forest fires are also caused by human factors.

Last year, foresters completed the “Green Country” program, but the creation of new forests and the preservation of naturally regenerated forests remain our priority. Even greater attention will be paid to the care of forest plantations – this is how we will ensure the supply of high-quality commercial timber in the future.

Everything we are already doing and planning to do is aimed at maximizing the capitalization of the forestry sector. This means healthy and protected forests, modern infrastructure, an upgraded material and technical base, efficient business processes, and a professional team.

A state forestry company with a market value of billions of euros? Yes, this is realistic. We are moving in this direction. Last year, a reorganization was carried out, the organizational structure and administrative apparatus were optimized, and we are consistently disposing of non-core assets. The last schemes through which illegal timber could systematically enter the market have been shut down.

This year, we are relaunching the implementation of an ERP system – no modern company can function without an automated management system.

We are continuing the corporatization process, which includes asset revaluation, inventory, and the preparation of transfer deeds. Registration of property rights to land is being finalized.

Last year, de-occupied forestry enterprises in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions joined SE “Forests of Ukraine.” Restoration, harvesting, and forest protection activities have begun. The area affected by fires has decreased several-fold. At the same time, not only frontline forestry enterprises require support. We are working on integrating other forest users that are unable to fully perform their functions.

The year has started very actively. Despite snowfall and frost, harvesting dynamics are higher than last year. Equipment is operating, forest roads are cleared, and warehouses are shipping products.

We feel a great responsibility: while other businesses are forced to stop, we continue to operate and grow, compensating for budget losses.

We are only awaiting long-planned legislative and regulatory decisions aimed at unlocking the full potential of the forestry sector.

Yurii Bolokhovets
Head of SE “Forests of Ukraine”