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This year, a telling incident occurred in one of our forestry units in the southern regions. A forester, while driving a service vehicle “Niva”, lost control and went off the road. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the car sustained mechanical damage. The forester managed to find a similar “Niva” somewhere and worked with it for several months without informing anyone. During an inspection, employees of the Department of Internal and Economic Security discovered this fact.
Eventually, the forester repaired the service “Niva”. Meanwhile, the situation highlights a critical problem with transport. For the maintenance of two forestry units (10,000 hectares), there is only one old VAZ, with no alternative available.
At the same time, sometimes a forester has to cover up to 200 km a day: accepting products at warehouses, supervising teams working on forest allotments, promptly responding to forest fires, conducting patrols to prevent illegal logging and poaching. The forester supervises 16 forest masters, who constantly use their personal vehicles for work.
2–3 reliable vehicles per forestry unit is the minimum required for normal operations! SFE “Forests of Ukraine” has more than 1,300 such forestry units!
The transport issue had existed in state forestry enterprises even before the war. With the start of the full-scale invasion, it worsened significantly — foresters transferred more than a thousand units of equipment to the front, including over a hundred passenger cars. This year, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” integrated the Izyum, Vovchansk, and Kupyansk forestry enterprises, and is in the process of merging the Donetsk and Kherson forestries, where practically no transport remained after hostilities or occupation.
Therefore, the enterprise is gradually investing in renewing its vehicle fleet. In 2024, we purchased 250 vehicles. Since the beginning of this year, 130 off-road vehicles have already been acquired.
Two weeks ago, we announced a new tender for the procurement of 86 pickup trucks. This week, we are starting the procurement process for 208 crossovers to be delivered in 2025–2026.
The make and model of the crossovers have not been specified to expand the pool of potential bidders. The procurement budget has been set with a focus on the most affordable segment, ensuring the best balance of price and necessary quality.
The vehicles will be delivered in batches throughout this and next year. Purchasing a large number of vehicles at once allows us to reduce the price.
The largest number of projects were commissioned in the Polissya Forest Office (Klesivske, Liubomlske, Volodymyr-Volynske, Liubashivske, and Sarnenske Forestry Management Units ) and in the Karpatskyi Forest Office (Berehivske Forestry Management Unit) – 4 projects in each branch.
Additionally, the construction of 3 forest roads was completed in the Pivnichnyi Forest Office (Nizhynske, Chernihivske, and Horodnyanske Forestry Management Units). At the final stage of construction is a road in the Central Forest Office (Vinnytske Forestry Management Unit).
Why are new forest roads needed?
✔️ They provide quick access to resources, reduce transportation costs, which makes the cost of timber cheaper for consumers;
✔️ In case of forest fires or emergencies, large-scale machinery can quickly reach the ignition site;
✔️ In the mountainous areas of the Carpathians, the need for skid trails – hotspots of erosion processes – is reduced;
✔️ The work of forest protection services in patrolling forest areas is simplified;
✔️ The load on the local road network is reduced.
All works were carried out by contractors who won tenders through Prozorro and offered the best conditions. Modern technologies were used in construction, which extend the service life of forest roads. The projects are funded exclusively from the enterprise’s own resources.
The frontline has moved closer to Pokrovske Forestry management subunit. Incidents of enemy FPV drones, guided aerial bombs, and, at times, artillery shelling have become more frequent. Over the past month, several forest fires covering 1.5–2 hectares broke out due to hostilities, which forest rangers promptly extinguished.
The management of the “Skhidnyi Forestry Office” branch decided to begin a partial evacuation of the forestry management subunit. Most of the equipment has been moved to the neighboring Liubymivske forestry management subunit, including tractors, fire engines, a forest fire-fighting module, a video surveillance mast, soil-cultivation machinery, and office equipment. Only the minimum necessary resources remain for rapid wildfire response.
The branch also offered relocation to all families of forestry employees, providing safe housing in more secure areas of the region.
Despite the difficult situation, foresters continue to carry out all necessary forestry operations:
✔️Forest care activities are ongoing — over 100 hectares have already been tended, and the Q3 plan is nearly fulfilled.
✔️Fire prevention measures are being implemented — 77 km of new firebreaks have been created, and 228 km of existing ones maintained.
Due to security risks, firewood harvesting has been suspended, but local residents can purchase non-industrial firewood at social prices from the neighboring Liubymivske forestry management subunit, where sufficient stock is available.
On August 25, the Chernivtsi Regional Police reported the detention of a timber truck loaded with illegal wood.
? https://tinyurl.com/27uv8a4d
This news sparked a strong reaction in local media. We’ll share the real details of what happened.
During the night of Sunday to Monday, August 25, forest wardens of the Yablunytsia forestry, while patrolling the state forest lands, heard the distinct sound of a chainsaw. Upon arriving at the site, they discovered a truck driven by a local resident. The vehicle was loaded with 14 logs of commercial spruce timber with a total volume of 11.6 m³.
Nearby, the rangers documented a plot with freshly cut trees — four European spruce trees with a total volume of 12 m³. The forest guards immediately called the police.
Together with the Chernivtsi Regional Police, the truck and driver were detained, and an inspection report was filed. The illegally harvested timber was transferred to the Forestry Management Subunit for safekeeping.
Forest protection staff, along with the Department of Internal and Economic Security of the State Specialized Forest Enterprise, are cooperating with the Chernivtsi Regional Police to identify other participants in the crime and uncover the location where the illegal timber is being processed.
State Specialized Forest Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” has launched training for participants of the updated talent pool.
Following the reorganization of regional structures, we renewed our pool by selecting 366 specialists from all branches. These employees are already preparing to take on key positions such as forester, chief forester, chief engineer, head of forest district, and head of production management. In the event of a vacancy, these specialists will be the first to be considered for the mentioned roles.
The selection process was comprehensive: we assessed knowledge of the regulatory framework and forestry processes, management competencies, as well as candidates’ motivation through surveys and testing.
The purpose of creating the pool is to help candidates acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for career growth.
The HR Department and the branch “Forest Training Center” have developed individual training programs for each position in order to most effectively enhance the required knowledge and skills.
The training, which will last until the end of the year, is divided into five modules:
1.Online courses on basic management skills: planning, organization, motivation, and coordination;
2.Professional development – improving specialized knowledge for the position. This module will include lectures and testing and will take 40 hours (one week). During this period, participants will be released from their regular duties. Lectures will be conducted online by experts from SFE “Forests of Ukraine” and professors from higher forestry education institutions;
3.Leadership skills: development of emotional intelligence, effective communication, and conflict resolution, with practical application of knowledge through video cases and real-life examples;
4.Testing to assess the acquired knowledge;
5.An individual development plan to help each participant continue their path of improvement after completing the training.
We realize that this is only the first step, and vacancies do not appear as often as we would like. However, we are confident that the knowledge and experience gained within this program will make every participant more qualified and better prepared for future professional challenges.
We are proud of our colleagues who have demonstrated their readiness to grow, and we wish them success in their training!
In the Vorotniv recreational area of the Kivertsi forestry enterprise, part of SE “Forests of Ukraine,” patients of the rehabilitation medical center for combatants from the Lutsk community enjoyed an excursion, karaoke, field kitchen meals, heartfelt conversations, and even new achievements.
Yurii, a soldier who lost both legs but has already received prosthetics, climbed on crutches to the highest point of the reserve. “The forest gives me such strength,” he says.
Ustym from Novovolynsk has been undergoing rehabilitation for less than a year. “It’s been a long time since I was last in the forest. The forest once protected me, and now it heals me,” he briefly adds.
“We strive to create conditions so that everyone feels comfortable,” says Valentyna Yukhymchuk, Director of the Youth Forestry Center. “We are working to make recreational areas accessible to all. Not everything can be done at once, but we listen to participants’ advice and step by step make the space comfortable for everyone”.
Over three years of reform, SE “Forests of Ukraine” has transformed its largest recreational areas into inclusive ones. They now welcome Defenders and their families undergoing rehabilitation. We are developing the barrier-free initiative launched by Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska.
Participants of eco-rehabilitation programs — specialized centers, volunteer groups, and charitable organizations — emphasize the power of the forest as a space for psychological and physical recovery.
We are installing ramps, lowering curbs, adapting pathways, creating audio guides, and putting up stands with Braille text. But most importantly, the forest removes invisible barriers. Here, children, soldiers, and everyone seeking recovery feel equally comfortable.
The participants returned home with smiles and agreements to continue such gatherings. For many, this is the only opportunity to see and feel the forest again.
Recently, law enforcement agencies have released many figures indicating a large number of criminal proceedings related to violations of forestry legislation.
State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine makes up only two-thirds of the country’s forestry sector, so we are not in a position to comment on the overall situation. However, it is worth noting that, unlike in pre-reform times, most violations in enterprises and structural divisions are now detected by Forests of Ukraine itself.
In 2024, the Department of Internal and Economic Security of the enterprise submitted 522 reports on identified violations of the law to law enforcement agencies, and 102 individuals were officially notified of suspicion.
In less than 8 months of 2025, 290 reports were submitted, and 182 individuals were charged.
In total, over one and a half years: 800+ reports and 284 suspicions!
As for material damage, only this year the Department recorded illegal logging of 16.6 thousand m³ worth almost 368 million UAH. The scale of logging has not increased — rather, violations are now documented more thoroughly, while in previous years they might have been concealed.
These figures fully correlate with the data announced by law enforcement agencies regarding the number of indictments submitted to court, individuals prosecuted, and damage caused.
The most high-profile cases reported by law enforcement agencies were documented through cooperation between the Department of Internal and Economic Security (DIES), other law enforcement bodies, and the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office. For example, last year it was the Department that discovered interference in the functioning of the Electronic Timber Accounting System, providing law enforcement with the leads that uncovered the entire criminal chain.
Illegal construction, schemes in land allocation for logging, misuse of sanitary logging permits, product misclassification during shipment, and fake work completion reports — all of this is being identified by the internal security unit of Forests of Ukraine in close cooperation with law enforcement and supervisory authorities.
Forest reform is not a magic wand that could instantly change the “corporate culture” built up in forestry over decades. But the fact is that during the years of reform, the enterprise has managed to establish an effective system of combating abuses.
The result is the ongoing process of market legalization. In particular, for the fourth consecutive quarter, demand for legal timber sold at exchange auctions has been steadily increasing.
In the first half of the year, Forests of Ukraine increased budget revenues by 40%, adding 1.7 billion UAH. The positive trend continues, meaning the results of the second half of the year will be even more impressive.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 165 employees of State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” have been killed on the frontlines. Another 119 are missing, six of them held in captivity. That is nearly 300 families who require constant care and support.
Therefore, on the eve of Independence Day, representatives from all branches of the enterprise visited these families. Words of gratitude can never match the heroism of these men.
As a sign of our care, foresters delivered food baskets. The most moving moments were the meetings with children. Despite the pain of loss, their sincere smiles bring hope and strength to move forward. In the eyes of these children lies the future of Ukraine, for which their fathers fought.
Such visits are not only a gesture of attention but also an opportunity to better understand the families’ needs. After all, the enterprise’s support is ongoing.
What kind of assistance does SE “Forests of Ukraine” provide to these families?
✔️ Financial support of 7,500 UAH for the purchase of firewood for heating;
✔️ Annual material assistance of up to 15,000 UAH;
✔️ Monthly financial assistance equal to the minimum wage for each child until they reach adulthood;
✔️ Funding for children’s education at higher educational institutions specializing in forestry.
Supporting the families of fallen and missing foresters will always remain our priority. We can withstand these difficult times only through unity and mutual support.
For two days, foresters battled a massive forest fire in the Izium Forestry District.
Nine units of forestry equipment and 20 personnel were involved in the firefighting effort. Emergency services, pyrotechnic units, and other agencies also worked on-site.
The fire broke out on August 22 in the Artemivske Forestry of the Izium Forestry District, located within the Oskil community. This area of forest is contaminated with explosive objects. Combined with strong gusts of wind, this caused the fire to spread rapidly over a large area, covering more than 100 hectares. The fire was officially classified as an emergency situation.
The causes of the fire are currently being investigated.
Fire trucks, modular firefighting units, and a forestry tractor were deployed to combat the blaze. After the Izium Forestry District was integrated into SE “Forests of Ukraine” in March this year, the company provided its forestries with off-road pickup trucks equipped with firefighting modules, new fire hoses, backpack extinguishers, and other essential firefighting equipment. All of this machinery and gear was directed toward containing the wildfire.
Forester-firefighters acted swiftly and professionally, preventing the flames from spreading to even larger areas.
Through the joint efforts of all services, the fire was stopped and completely extinguished by the afternoon of August 24, covering an area of 102 hectares.
Reminder: Over 170,000 hectares of forests in Kharkiv region remain mined. Any ignition, even the smallest one near forested areas, can lead to a large-scale forest fire. Please act responsibly!
Until the end of martial law, visiting forests is strictly prohibited!
The design capacity is up to 10 million seedlings per year.
The plant will provide the best planting material for the north and south of the country.
The center will also include Ukraine’s largest seed bank, with a reserve for growing over 100 million seedlings.
In the Chernihiv region, near the M-01 “Kyiv-Chernihiv” highway in the Horbachivskyi forestry, the most powerful and modern center in Ukraine for growing planting material with a closed root system (CRS) will soon begin operations.
Traditionally, tree seedlings were grown in nurseries. During the forest-culture campaign, they are moved to a plot in the forest and planted.
However, due to climate change, Europeans have already switched to more modern technology—CRS seedlings, which are grown in seed centers. They are more resilient, establish themselves better, and grow faster.
SE “Forests of Ukraine” is also currently investing in developing a network of such seed centers. The new plant in the Chernihiv region is practically on par with the best European ones.
CRS seedlings are sown on a special line. The seeds are placed in cassettes with nutrient-rich soil.
Almost all processes are automated—only 10 people are needed for the work.
But before reaching the sowing line, the seeds undergo a thorough selection process. The center includes a special workshop equipped with a cone dryer and other modern equipment from leading manufacturers.
In the future, there will be 5 drying cabinets here, which will process 400 kg of cones per day!
Seeds must meet strict requirements, so a significant portion of the collected material may be rejected.
The center also has its own seed bank. Some tree species produce quality seeds only once every 5-7 years. Therefore, in Europe, seed banks have a reserve for 10-15 years. Now, Ukraine will also have a strategic seed reserve. The center will store seeds of pine, oak, spruce, larch, and other tree species.
The sowing line starts operating in the spring to allow the seedlings to grow and strengthen during the warm season. In the autumn, the plants can already be planted in open ground. However, some seedlings will overwinter in cassettes and will be planted only in the spring.
To prevent the seedlings from dying in winter due to temperature fluctuations, the center is equipped with huge refrigerators. Here, the plants will wait for spring planting at an optimal temperature. The refrigerators will store 2 million seedlings simultaneously.
Next to the main workshop are huge grow-out fields and greenhouses. An automated irrigation system ensures ideal conditions for the plants’ development during their first year of life.
This year, SE “Forests of Ukraine” is completing the President’s program. We will plant the promised billion trees. CRS seedlings are also actively used in implementing the program.
Their advantage is a much better survival rate, the ability to extend the duration of the forest-culture campaign, and lower labor costs during planting.
When a regular seedling is dug up from a nursery, its roots are exposed. Such a plant dries out and gets damaged during transportation.
CRS seedlings are moved in their cassettes. They take root faster and have significantly greater growth energy. Planting them is simpler.
CRS seedlings will much more quickly transform into a forested area, allowing foresters to save on tending the plantations. Considering the better survival rate and all other factors, the new technology is more economically viable than the traditional one.
In total, 10 such centers will be operating in Ukraine in the near future. The plan is to reach a total production capacity of up to 70 million seedlings per year.
Some of the products may be exported, as the cost of producing Ukrainian seedlings is competitive on the European market.
However, the main goal is the restoration of Ukrainian forests, primarily in frontline and de-occupied territories.