A controversial situation surrounding the Northern Plesetske sand and granite deposit in Plesetske, Kyiv Region, has drawn public scrutiny: despite an ongoing criminal case involving unlawful mineral extraction that caused over 500 million UAH ($12M) in damage to the state, the special extraction permit remains valid. While the indictment against businessman Valeriy Samofal and his wife is currently before the court, attempts to transfer the permit between affiliated entities continue.
According to investigators, illegal operations at the deposit resulted in large-scale environmental degradation. Despite the formal charges, Special Permit No. 6752 for subsoil use has neither been suspended nor revoked by the State Geological and Surface Survey of Ukraine (StateGeology).
Documents show that the mining rights were originally granted to LLC «Transkom-19.» Subsequently, the permit was transferred to another affiliated entity, LLC «Northern Plesetske Sand and Granite Deposit.» This corporate re-registration allows the involved parties to retain legal control over the site amid active court proceedings.
«Over 500 million UAH in damage has been inflicted on the state, and trial proceedings are underway, yet the extraction rights remain intact and are being passed between linked companies,» representatives of the «Vykryvach» initiative noted.
Whistleblowers and civic watchdogs are questioning the lack of prompt intervention by StateGeology and law enforcement agencies regarding the cancellation of the authorization. Regulators are now expected to issue an official response and initiate proceedings to revoke the permit to prevent further environmental harm.