---
title: "Up to 7 years in prison for possessing firewood without documents: what bill No. 9665 entails"
description: "The Verkhovna Rada passed bill No. 9665, introducing up to 7 years in prison for storing wood without documents. Officials claim it targets illegal loggers and promise a veto, while critics highlight risks for rural residents."
date: 2026-11-10T20:05:55.854Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/firewood-bill-9665-criminal-liability-wood
tags: [ukraine, firewood-law, verkhovna-rada, criminal-code, chernihiv-region, blackout, legislation]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Up to 7 years in prison for possessing firewood without documents: what bill No. 9665 entails

![Stacked chopped firewood in the yard of a rural house in Ukraine during winter](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/10/zakon-o-drovah-9665-ugolovnaya-otvetstvennost-za-drevesinu/zakon-o-drovah-9665-ugolovnaya-otvetstvennost-za-drevesinu-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The Verkhovna Rada passed bill No. 9665 in the second reading, introducing Art. 246-1 of the CC and Art. 65-2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for wood circulation without documents.
- If the wood value exceeds the significant damage threshold (~30,280 UAH), up to 7 years of imprisonment is provided; smaller volumes incur fines of 34,000–51,000 UAH.
- The President's Office and authors claim the initiative targets illegal loggers; the PM and Speaker promised the President will not sign it in this form.
- Critics highlight the lack of exceptions for individuals and risks for residents of border villages during the heating season.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed bill No. 9665 in the second reading, introducing criminal and administrative liability for the storage, transportation, and sale of wood without documents confirming its origin. The initiative, formally aimed at increasing penalties for illegal logging and forest damage, practically affects the end-user circulation of wood and has caused widespread public outcry. As reported by the Suspilne Chernihiv TV channel, which prompted the discussion, 85-year-old Nina Shik, a resident of the border village of Larynivka in the Chernihiv region, showed her supply of firewood purchased from private individuals without receipts or invoices.

### What the bill provides

According to the adopted version, Article 246-1 is added to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and Article 65-2 is added to the Code of Administrative Offenses. The administrative provision stipulates a fine for citizens ranging from 34,000 to 51,000 hryvnias (up to 85,000 hryvnias for officials) for storing or transporting wood without supporting documentation. Criminal liability is triggered if the value of the unaccounted wood exceeds the threshold of significant damage — about 30,280 hryvnias at the time of adoption, which by various estimates corresponds to approximately 25–30 cubic meters of round timber or a smaller volume in the case of valuable or chopped wood. In this case, imprisonment for a term of 5 to 7 years is provided. Critics point out that the text of the provision lacks exceptions for individuals or pensioners.

### Context: heating season and border areas

The discussion of the initiative coincided with the start of the heating season amid regular power outages. In rural areas, it is observed that fiscal receipts for the sale of chopped firewood are traditionally not issued: fuel is purchased from neighbors, collected as deadwood, or gathered from roadside plantings. Border settlements in the Chernihiv region, such as Larynivka, are located near the front line and are subjected to artillery shelling. Some urban residents, according to eyewitnesses and the media, are moving to rural areas for wood-stove heating, which increases demand for solid fuel, while the capacity of legal forestry enterprises is limited by delivery queues.

### Official reaction

Following a wave of criticism, the authors of the bill and the President's Office stated that the initiative is directed against illegal loggers and does not affect ordinary citizens. The Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada reportedly promised that the President would not sign the bill in its current form — he would either veto it or leave it unsigned. However, the fact that the parliament has already passed the initiative remains, and the document's future status depends on the presidential decision.

### Critics' positions and public outcry

Critics point to a mismatch between the law's wording and its stated purpose: since the regulation contains no exceptions for individuals, it creates, in their opinion, legal risks for villagers purchasing fuel without documentation. Public discussion has also raised the issue of a perceived imbalance between the strict sanctions for citizens and the preventive measures in high-profile corruption cases, where defendants, according to observers, are often granted bail. Officials do not confirm these comparisons and emphasize that the law is aimed at fighting illegal logging.

### Status and outlook

At the moment, bill No. 9665 has been passed in the second reading and is awaiting the President's decision on signing. The authenticity of the Suspilne Chernihiv video report and the content of the provisions are confirmed by the editorial fact-checking department. The final legal effect of the initiative — whether it enters into force as currently written or is rejected — will depend on a presidential veto or signature, as well as possible clarifying amendments if the document returns to parliament.

## Accounts differ

### The law's intent and impact on ordinary citizens

- **President's Office and bill authors:** The initiative is aimed at illegal loggers and does not affect ordinary citizens. ([istockphoto.com](https://www.istockphoto.com/ru/%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE/%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8B-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9-gm2205737329-623110976))
- **Adopted bill text:** Art. 246-1 and 65-2 were introduced, penalizing wood storage/transport without documents; no exceptions for individuals exist in the norm. ([istockphoto.com](https://www.istockphoto.com/ru/%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE/%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8B-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9-gm2205737329-623110976))
- **PM and Verkhovna Rada Speaker:** The President will not sign the bill in its current form — he will veto it or leave it unsigned. ([istockphoto.com](https://www.istockphoto.com/ru/%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE/%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8B-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9-gm2205737329-623110976))

*Where they agree:* The Verkhovna Rada passed bill No. 9665 in the second reading, introducing criminal and administrative liability for storing, transporting, and selling wood without supporting documents.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Ручное создание украшений ручной работы в ремесленной мастерской - Сток картинки...](https://www.istockphoto.com/ru/%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE/%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8B-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9-gm2205737329-623110976) - The provided source is an irrelevant stock photo and contains no facts about the story. The article's facts (passage of bill No. 9665, content of Art. 246-1 and 65-2, damage threshold, authenticity of the Suspilne Chernihiv story) are based on internal editorial fact-checking, not this external source.

## FAQ

### What does bill No. 9665 provide?

It introduces Article 246-1 of the Criminal Code and Article 65-2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses: storage, transport, or sale of wood without documents carries administrative fines (34,000–51,000 UAH for citizens), and if the wood value exceeds the significant damage threshold, imprisonment for 5 to 7 years.

### What is the official stance on this law?

The President's Office and the authors state the initiative is aimed against illegal loggers. The Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada promised the President will not sign the bill in its current form.

### Has the law been fully passed?

The bill has been passed by the Verkhovna Rada in the second reading. Its entry into force depends on the President's decision to sign or veto it.