Former Head of Nadra Ukraïny Takes on Efficiency Role at Lisy Ukraïny

Taraz Kuzmych Appointed to New Position

According to Главком: Taraz Kuzmych, who served as chairman of the state-owned enterprise Nadra Ukraïny from 2019 to 2025, has been given a new assignment. Effective June 18, 2023, he became the director for production efficiency improvement at the state enterprise Lisy Ukraïny. The appointment order was signed by Ihor Zubovych, head of the transformation commission, who is set to become the acting general director of Lisy Ukraïny starting July 1, 2023. Kuzmych will undergo a three-month probation period in his new role.

Current State of Lisy Ukraïny

Since late September 2025, Lisy Ukraïny has been in a state of dissolution. As of now, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has not confirmed Kuzmych's status as a suspect in any case. His most recent asset declaration on the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) website dates back to 2019, raising questions about his financial transparency.

In 2023, several criminal cases related to the activities of Lisy Ukraïny were recorded in Ukraine:

• In March, the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office exposed the head of a Lisy Ukraïny branch and a local political party leader for selling timber disguised as firewood.
• In April, the Ivano-Frankivsk regional prosecutor's office filed a lawsuit against Lisy Ukraïny for nearly 387 million hryvnias in damages due to illegal logging.
• In June, law enforcement uncovered a criminal group involving officials from the Chornivske forestry unit of Lisy Ukraïny, which caused damages of almost 22 million hryvnias.

Kuzmych's appointment thus comes amid serious legal challenges in Ukraine's forestry sector that demand urgent resolution. These cases highlight systemic issues that the new director will need to address.

Kuzmych's appointment is set against a backdrop of significant challenges in the forestry industry, including numerous criminal cases that could impact the reputation and management effectiveness of Lisy Ukraïny.

Given the enterprise's ongoing legal troubles, it is critical for the new director to focus on restoring trust in forestry institutions and ensuring transparency in operations. The current challenges require immediate measures to prevent further losses and improve oversight of the country's natural resources.