Two Business Leaders in Kyiv Region Accused of Illegal Water Sales Worth 257 Million UAH

Charges Filed for Unauthorized Groundwater Extraction in Kyiv Oblast

According to Главком: Authorities have charged two company executives in the Brovary and Fastiv districts of Kyiv Oblast with illegally extracting and selling groundwater, causing over 257 million Ukrainian hryvnias in damages to the state. These cases highlight ongoing challenges in regulating natural resource use in Ukraine.

In Brovary district, the head of a municipal enterprise is accused of pumping more than 70,000 cubic meters of water from a well between 2023 and 2025 without any permits. The water was bottled in plastic containers and sold, generating 39.7 million UAH in revenue for the suspect.

In Fastiv district, the director of a private company faces similar charges for operating an industrial well without authorization. From 2024 to 2025, he allegedly extracted nearly 11,400 cubic meters of groundwater, which was purified, bottled, and sold. The state suffered losses of approximately 218 million UAH in this case.

Both individuals have been notified of suspicion under Article 240, Part 3 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to six years in prison. Separately, Kyiv law enforcement has charged an official from the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture of the Kyiv City State Administration for accepting bribes to facilitate advertising permit approvals. The bribes were deposited into a bank account registered under the name of the official's husband.

Weak Oversight of Natural Resource Use Exposed

Additionally, a former inspector from the landscaping and ecology department of the Dnipro District State Administration in Kyiv is set to face trial for demanding $1,500 in exchange for allowing the illegal installation of drinking water vending machines. These incidents underscore serious deficiencies in regional oversight of natural resources and the urgent need for stricter penalties and enforcement mechanisms to prevent future violations.

Illegal groundwater extraction threatens both the environment and public water supplies. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and prosecuting offenders are critical steps to curb such abuses and protect Ukraine's natural assets for future generations.

The recent charges against business leaders in Kyiv Oblast reveal significant issues in the oversight of natural resources. This situation is further compounded by corruption within city administrations, as evidenced by a separate case involving a city official accused of soliciting bribes for advertising permits. For more on this concerning trend in Kyiv, see our article about the official's alleged bribery activities here.