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For the second time this year, we are raising salaries for production personnel — drivers, loggers, fellers, tractor operators, mechanics, gamekeepers, foresters, forest masters, and assistant foresters.
The first salary increase took place at the beginning of the year as a result of reorganization and reduction of the administrative staff, and it applied to all employees.
The second increase became possible thanks to the growth of SE “Forests of Ukraine” financial and economic indicators in the first half of the year.
The management of SE “Forests of Ukraine” had promised to allocate an additional half a billion hryvnias to raise wages for production staff, making employee remuneration more balanced.
As a result, compared to the same period last year, the monthly payroll fund increased by UAH 90 million!
The increase in salaries for production personnel was implemented with a differentiated approach. The percentage of growth depended on the actual workload of each employee. In particular, the largest increases went to forest masters responsible for areas of over 1,200 hectares and those with the highest fire hazard class.
For June, employees engaged in forestry work have already received their increased salaries.
The total volume of timber offered for sale amounts to 1.4 million m³:
835,000 m³ – round timber;
513,000 m³ – fuelwood.
Part of the Q4 resources has already been sold under forward contracts for the second half of 2025. In Q4, forward contracts will account for 703,000 m³, including:
300,000 m³ – round timber;
403,000 m³ – fuelwood.
Thus, the total timber volume planned for delivery to buyers in Q4 will reach 2.1 million m³ (note: this refers only to timber sold through auctions; in addition, the enterprise supplies fuelwood to the population, provides timber to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, etc.).
The starting prices for quarterly auctions are calculated based on actual selling prices from the previous two quarters (Q1 and Q2) and the starting prices of the current (Q3) auction.
This approach eliminates the influence of “speculative” purchases where no deliveries were made, and smooths out temporary price spikes by expanding the reference pricing period used in calculations.
Quarterly auctions began with the branches Southern Forestry Office and Eastern Forestry Office and will continue until September 13, 2025.
The auction schedule, approved by the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, is published on the official website of SE “LIAC”:
? https://www.ukrforest.com/auction_next
Information on lot specifications and auction dates is available on the websites of licensed commodity exchanges in the “Raw Timber and Lumber” section:
✔️ Ukrainian Universal Exchange LLC — https://www.uub.com.ua/…/neobroblena-derevna-ta…/
✔️ Ukrainian Energy Exchange LLC — https://www.ueex.com.ua/…/neobroblena-derevina-ta…/
✔️ Ukrainian Trading Platform LLC — https://utplatforma.com/lisomateriali-i-pilomateriali
✔️ Ukrainian Resource Exchange LLC — https://urb.ua/kalendar-torgiv/
Based on the results of the first seven months of this year, the best performance indicators belong to the Slobozhanskyi, Central, Poliskyi, and Capital Forest Offices. The Northern Forest Office has already fulfilled 109% of its Q3 plan. In total, maintenance has been carried out on an area of more than 75,000 hectares.
Maintenance operations create conditions for the development of forest crops and ensure the timely conversion of plots into forest-covered areas.
The scope, duration, and timing of maintenance depend on the type of forest site conditions, the methods used to establish forest crops, and weather and climate factors.
This summer, in the northern and central regions, heavy rainfall has been observed — work is being carried out to remove grass and shrub vegetation that hinders the growth and development of forest crops.
In the south and east, where rainfall has been less, soil loosening around forest crops is being performed to retain moisture for the root systems.
Maintenance is carried out both manually and mechanically. This year, 90% of the work is being performed by mechanized methods.
Advantages of mechanized maintenance:
✔️ Soil cultivation equipment does not damage young trees, which increases productivity and efficiency. Timely maintenance of forest crops also contributes to better survival rates.
✔️ The speed of land treatment increases fivefold.
✔️ Mechanized maintenance requires fewer resources.
The share of mechanized maintenance has grown thanks to the continuous renewal of machinery. Cultivators and disc harrows are actively used for soil cultivation. Corridor clearers, mulchers, brush cutters, and tractors are used to remove unwanted vegetation from interrows.
This year, the company’s investment plan includes the purchase of 156 units of soil cultivation machinery for forest crop maintenance.
The Sloviansk, Lyman, and Velykoanadol forestry and hunting enterprises are completing the process of officially transitioning to SE “Forests of Ukraine.” They will be merged into the Donetsk Forestry District under the “Eastern Forestry Office” branch.
What circumstances led to this?
Russian aggression in Donbas has lasted for over 11 years. With the full-scale invasion, the situation has worsened dramatically. On newly occupied territories, the invaders have been conducting mass logging and exporting timber abroad by rail and sea.
In total, 133,000 hectares of forest in Donetsk region have been affected by the war, of which 87,400 hectares are under temporary occupation.
The greatest problem for local foresters is landmines. Around 50,800 hectares are potentially contaminated with explosive devices — practically the entire territory of the Lyman and Sloviansk forestries. Most of the Velykoanadol forestry (20,500 hectares) is occupied. Thanks to the efforts of State Emergency Service (SES) demining units and local authorities, 1,700 hectares have already been cleared. As a result, last year the Sloviansk forestry carried out forest maintenance cuts, selling over 18,000 m³ of firewood and a small share of sawlogs for the social sector and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
However, large mined areas and constant shelling make it impossible for foresters to effectively fight forest fires. Last year alone, more than 4,500 hectares of forest burned in the Lyman forestry. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the total area of forest fires across these forestries has exceeded 10,000 hectares. The exact number is currently impossible to calculate.
Firefighting is further complicated by the lack of equipment and infrastructure. During the 2022 occupation, the Lyman forestry completely lost its firefighting equipment — stolen by Russian forces. The occupiers also destroyed video surveillance towers, monitoring posts, and the early forest fire detection system.
The timber processing workshop, forest nursery, and seed selection center were partially destroyed. All facilities belonging to the seed selection center were completely ruined. Nearly all forestry buildings were demolished.
Proximity to the frontline has also caused a staff shortage. Currently, all three forestries together employ about 70 workers (mostly from Sloviansk). Those who live nearby store the remaining machinery in their own yards: 10 tractors, 3 forest fire modules, and 4 fire trucks. Dozens of other foresters and their families have evacuated to safer regions.
What will the newly integrated forestries receive?
Enhanced demining efforts in cooperation with local authorities, SES, and potential investors.
Delivery of necessary firefighting equipment.
Preparation for the autumn reforestation campaign — assistance with seedlings, restoration of forests in demined areas, and care for preserved plantations.
Stronger control measures to reduce risks of illegal logging and abuses.
Why does SE “Forests of Ukraine” take this step?
We are taking responsibility for a troubled asset that requires significant investment. But we are doing this deliberately — to preserve and restore forests in the eastern territories and to provide decent working conditions for local foresters.
Earlier this year, three frontline forestry enterprises in Kharkiv region were merged into the “Slobozhansky Forestry Office” branch, forming the Izium Forestry District. As a result, thanks to the company’s firefighting equipment and timely response, the area of forest fires decreased sixfold.
The Security Department staff patrol checkpoints, inspecting all timber trucks leaving the Izium Forestry District. This has effectively stopped the flow of illegal timber from frontline areas of Kharkiv region along major roads.
Meanwhile, the procedure of merging two Kherson forestries into the “Southern Forestry Office” branch is also nearing completion.
Since the beginning of 2025, the “Stolychnyi Lisovyi Ofis” (Capital Forest Office) branch of the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” has been operating with a new organizational structure and staff roster. The management of production, personnel, sales, procurement, and other areas has been centralized at the single branch level, and the former branch-leskhozes (forestry enterprises) have been liquidated.
Duplication of functions has been eliminated and the number of administrative staff has been optimized.
The number of administrative positions has been reduced by almost 35%! While administrative personnel expenses exceeded 200 million UAH in 2023, they are less than 126 million this year.
A portion of the saved resources was allocated to increasing salaries for production staff, specifically forestry workers.
Salaries for forest masters, tractor drivers, and drivers have been increased by an average of 20% since the beginning of the year.
We have 20% more new employees in production roles. For the first time in many years, we have not only managed to retain staff at the forestry offices but also filled vacant positions!
Our priority: less bureaucracy and fewer offices, and more skilled people equipped with vehicles and digital tools for accounting and control who are working in the forest!
Yesterday, one of the recreational points of the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” became a space of strength, recovery, and support for those who stood up to defend our freedom.
We invited soldiers undergoing rehabilitation at the Chernihiv City Hospital, as well as military medics, to participate. The event was held within the framework of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space by 2030, initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska.
Among the guests were veterans who had experienced amputations and severe injuries, as well as those whose main wound was invisible, in the form of psychological stress and PTSD. The forest became a safe space for them, where they could take a deep breath, hear the birds singing, and feel that, despite everything, life goes on.
Not everyone is ready to share their stories, and in such moments, nature becomes the best therapy.
We prepared a special program for the participants:
Yoga Practice with instructor Hanna — breathing exercises and muscle relaxation outdoors, barefoot in the grass. An hour among the trees brought peace, relieved tension, and helped restore inner balance.
Painting Workshop — each person created their own bright “forest shopper bag” and took it home as a warm memory of the day.
We saw the tension on the faces of our guests replaced by genuine smiles. Because barrier-free access isn’t just about ramps or accessible routes. It’s about the opportunity to live, feel, and be happy.
The recreational points of the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” are equipped with the principles of barrier-free access in mind: they are convenient for movement, rest, and communication. They are open to everyone and always free of charge. Here, everyone can feel like a part of nature — without limitations.
In July, the maximum daytime temperature in the Dnipropetrovsk region reached +39 degrees Celsius. In most areas, there has been no rain for months. Corn and sunflower crops are dying on farms. In forest areas, “hits” from KABs (guided aerial bombs) and drones are constantly recorded.
However, thanks to the quick response of the forest protection service, which received new equipment this year, the number and area of fires are minimal.
Over the past week, there were 7 forest fires covering an area of 9.14 hectares, most of which were caused by shelling (8.94 hectares).
Yesterday in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the Krutoyarivske forestry, two fires broke out as a result of six(!) guided aerial bombs falling.
There are cases where incendiary mixtures were sprayed from enemy drones over forest areas!
But the average area of a single fire is only 1.3 hectares, which means that foresters, together with the State Emergency Service, are preventing the fire from spreading.
All fires were promptly contained and extinguished.
The main reasons for the successful firefighting efforts are:
Modern firefighting equipment has been purchased
This year, the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” purchased a large batch of forest fire modules for the “Eastern Forest Office” branch, which were installed on pickup trucks. In total, the branch’s supra-forestry offices have 21 fire trucks, 13 forest fire modules on an all-wheel-drive chassis, and 13 modules installed on pickup trucks. By the end of the year, SE “Forests of Ukraine” plans to purchase and transfer an additional 14 forest fire modules to the Eastern Forest Office.
Fire prevention infrastructure has been equipped
Since the beginning of the year, 1.8 thousand km of mineralized strips have been created, and 8.9 thousand have been maintained, which is almost double the planned target.
Training has been conducted
166 employees have completed training under the “forest firefighter” program, and 48 under the “forest fire suppression manager” program.
Cooperation with communities has been established
Since the beginning of the year, the branch’s forest protection service has conducted 315 raids to identify violators of fire safety rules, and 13 reports have been filed. Additionally, 530 educational talks have been held.
The state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” continues its systematic work on preserving self-sown forests and increasing the state forest fund.
Virtually all areas for afforestation under the permanent use of the enterprise are already forested. At the same time, our strategic goal remains to implement the President’s “Green Country” program, not only in terms of planting a billion trees but also in increasing Ukraine’s forest cover percentage.
That’s why we constantly work with communities and regional authorities, submitting requests to transfer reserve lands and identified self-forested territories for the enterprise’s use.
The communities of Mykolaiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions have been the most responsive to our requests.
Overall, since the beginning of the year, SE “Forests of Ukraine” has completed the registration of property rights for almost 6.5 thousand hectares of new territories!
All of them will be forested in the future.
Among the latest transfers is a self-forested plot in the territory of the Truskavets city council.
Growing and preserving a forest is a long and painstaking process. By transferring territories to SE “Forests of Ukraine,” communities transfer the costs and responsibility to the state enterprise. However, they benefit from all the advantages of afforestation (clean ecology, biodiversity, tourist attractiveness, timber, and ecosystem services).
The procedure for transferring plots to the state forest fund is not complicated and does not require any costs from the community.
We have provided detailed instructions on how this is done: https://tinyurl.com/2crty9st
On July 10, a windstorm swept through the Nyvytske forestry of the Radekhiv supra-forestry of the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.” The windthrow damaged 27.7 hectares of pine plantations. Foresters immediately began allocating the damaged plots. A commission inspection was carried out with the participation of the state enterprise “Lvivlisozakhyst,” the Western Interregional Directorate, community representatives, forest estimators from the “Ukrhoslisproekt” association, and the forester of the Nyvytske forestry.
The windthrow caused localized damage to the stands. The continuous area of damaged plots does not exceed 1 hectare, so an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure is not required. This allows for the quick removal of damaged timber before it loses its quality.
The cleanup of the windthrow will begin next week. Sanitary fellings are planned: clearcutting on 3.8 hectares and selective felling on 27.7 hectares. The total volume of harvested timber will be over 1100 m³.
The harvesting is planned to be completed by the end of the third quarter. The harvested timber will be transported by foresters to intermediate warehouses near the village of Troyitsya. The forest products (both commercial and firewood timber) will be sold at the main exchange auctions for the third quarter and at forward auctions for the third and fourth quarters. Thanks to “forwards,” wood processors will be able to reserve the necessary volume of raw materials and lock in the price.
This autumn, forest planting is planned for the plots where clearcutting has taken place. Instead of monoculture plantations, foresters will create a mixed forest that is more resistant to diseases and fires—oak seedlings will be added to the main pine species.
Harvesting services represent the largest share of the enterprise’s procurements. Traditionally, they were acquired through direct contracts.
Since last year, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” has begun establishing a transparent, open, and civilized timber harvesting market.
Despite resistance from some operators unaccustomed to working openly and opposed to public tender mechanisms, procurement has been successfully transitioned to Prozorro.
We have convinced the business community of the advantages of concluding contracts through transparent, competitive auctions.
The result : thousands of workers are now officially employed, and contractors pay taxes into local budgets. There are greater opportunities to enforce compliance with safe working conditions. Opportunities for manipulation have been minimized – all concluded contracts are published.
The path to creating a fully‑fledged market is a long one.
We are working to create conditions that enable contractors to invest in mechanization assets. We are seeking to attract a broader range of market participants to the tenders, thereby increasing competition.
The formation of an efficient and competitive timber‑harvesting market is a guarantee that the enterprise will fulfil its obligations to wood‑processing companies regarding the timely supply of timber.