The pre-New Year period traditionally tempts unscrupulous lovers of 'free' Christmas trees, however, in 2025, for illegal logging, one will have to pay significantly more than for purchasing a legal tree. This is reported by TSN.
In Ukraine, there are a number of regulations establishing liability for illegal destruction of forest plantations. Depending on the damage caused, a person may be held liable for both administrative and criminal offenses.
Fines for cutting down a Christmas tree: what amounts are provided by law
For one tree, administrative punishment is provided under Article 65 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. The violator will have to pay:
from 510 to 1,020 UAH for illegal logging, damage, or transportation of trees in forest nurseries and natural plantations (30-60 non-taxable minimums);
from 17,000 to 25,500 UAH if the actions caused significant damage. In such cases, other measures may also be possible: probation supervision, restriction of liberty, or imprisonment for up to three years;
3-5 years of imprisonment in case of repeat offenses or if the violation was committed by a group of persons;
up to 34,000 UAH in fines if the logging occurred in a reserve or another protected area. Severe consequences may result in a sentence of 5-7 years of imprisonment.
Fines for cutting down a Christmas tree: how responsibility is determined
The type of liability depends on the scale of the violation: how many trees were cut down, in what area it occurred, and what damage was caused to the environment. Law enforcement separately assesses the degree of damage and the repeatability of actions. The higher the damages - the harsher the punishment. During the holiday period, forest monitoring is intensified, so the risk of being caught increases.
Earlier we reported how to choose a legal Christmas tree: verification of the barcode and official fairs.