Ukraine against illegal felling of Christmas trees: Fines and control measures

Ukrainians are actively preparing for the New Year's season, but the authorities are tightening control over those who might try to cut down a Christmas tree illegally. Citizens face serious fines for violating this rule. The amount of the penalty depends on the size and location of the greenery.

For cutting down a coniferous tree, Ukrainians face a fine of up to 52 thousand hryvnias, and in the case of large-scale felling, even imprisonment. For illegal felling of a Christmas tree in the forests, citizens face a fine of 759 to 52,311 hryvnias, depending on the location of the felling.

When buying a Christmas tree, it is important to check the legality of the sellers and ask for the relevant documents. It is also worth remembering that officially harvested trees must have tags and barcodes that can be used to check their place of harvesting.

As part of the campaign against unauthorized felling of conifers, Kyiv has started treating trees with harmless chemicals. Repellents that emit an unpleasant odor help prevent violations. The raids and patrols are being conducted in cooperation with the State Environmental Inspectorate and the patrol police to combat illegal felling of conifers on the eve of the New Year.