Almost burned the field: police in Odessa region reported a suspicion of a man who threw a cigarette butt
The man grazed cattle on the outskirts of the village of Division, threw a cigarette butt into a stump, not sure he had extinguished it, and walked away. Such negligence may result in a fine of up to 153 thousand hryvnias or imprisonment for up to 5 years for the offender.
The fire was seen by a local resident and called rescuers and law enforcement. The flames were quickly extinguished without allowing it to spread to the fields with crops located nearby. After starting a pre-trial investigation, the police on the same day established that a 51-year-old local resident was involved in the outbreak of the fire.
“Having gathered enough evidence, investigators under the procedural guidance of the Belgorod-Dnestrovsk District Prosecutor's Office informed the defendant about the suspicion of destroying stubble, dry wild herbs, vegetation and its remains on agricultural land by fire. This crime qualifies under Part 1 of Article 245 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and is punishable by a fine of five thousand four hundred to nine thousand non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens, ranging from 91800 to 153000 hryvnias, or restriction of liberty for a term of two to five years, or imprisonment will for the same period. The investigation is ongoing,” commented Viktor Dudka, the head of the police department No. 2 of the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky district police department.
At the same time, we emphasize that in the heat and in strong winds, a small cigarette butt, carelessly left in the grass, can cause significant damage to the ecosystem, property of citizens or even lead to the death of people.
Be responsible, do not leave unlit fires, matches and cigarette butts behind you. And if you witness a fire, immediately report to the special line of the State Emergency Service at the number “101” and the National Police at the number “102”.
National Police of Ukraine
