In the Zhytomyr region, a scheme for selling crops from radioactively contaminated lands was uncovered

In the Zhytomyr region, a scheme for selling crops from radioactively contaminated lands was uncovered

Ukrainian farmers were selling crops from radioactively contaminated lands.

This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

In the Zhytomyr region, a scheme of illegal use of such lands was uncovered, involving a village head, directors of farms, and a land manager.

According to the investigation, in 2021, a town head along with a land manager and managers of four enterprises handed over 1790 hectares of land in the zone of radioactive contamination for use.

The town head signed preliminary lease agreements with acceptance-transfer acts despite the fact that these lands are contaminated with radiation following the Chornobyl disaster and can only be managed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Subsequently, the farming enterprises used the radioactively contaminated land plots for growing crops, harvesting them, and selling them, including to bakeries.

It was established that the harm caused to the state in 2021 was estimated by experts to be over 4.9 million UAH.

Additionally, the director of one of the companies created an organized group involving the head of another enterprise and a deputy of one of the village councils.

On self-occupied plots, they grew 364.77 tons of sunflower worth over 6.6 million UAH. The harvest was illegally taken out of the exclusion zone and sold on the domestic market.

The village head of one of the united territorial communities of the region, the land manager of the village council, and three directors of private enterprises have been notified of suspicion.

In addition, suspicions were announced to the directors of two companies and a former deputy of the village council.

Currently, the issue of choosing a preventive measure for the suspects and seizing their property is being decided, law enforcement officers report.