Ecocide: the ecosystem was killed in the tributary of the river Sluch

As a result of discharge of polluted waters in the tributary of the Sluch River, flora and fauna disappeared in the water area.

The investigation established that from October 2017 to January 2021, employees of one of the enterprises discharged polluted return water into a tributary of the Sluch River. As a result of such actions, river flora and fauna disappeared in the area about 4 km from the place of discharge of return water. Its recovery and reproduction are currently impossible. These conclusions were made after an engineering and environmental examination.

The head and foreman of the heat supply shop of one of the business associations were informed of the suspicion of committing ecocide (Article 441 of the Criminal Code). This is the first suspicion of such a crime in the history of independent Ukraine. Currently, the issue of choosing a preventive measure for them is being resolved, as stated on the website of the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The amount of damage caused to the state as a result of the death of fish and part of other ecological resources is estimated at 14 million hryvnias.

The river Sluch is located in the north of Ukraine within the borders of Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr and Rivne regions. Small hydroelectric power plants are located in the upper reaches. The river was navigable on a section of almost 290 km: barges and ferries traveled along it; however, its current depth is only 1.5–1.7 m.