With the onset of the autumn season in Ukraine, enthusiasts of quiet hunting traditionally become more active. However, amid the ongoing martial law, the harvesting of mushrooms and forest berries is strictly regulated by law, and visiting forest areas is tied to a number of restrictions. Citizens should keep in mind that free access to nature is far from preserved everywhere, and violating established rules can result in severe administrative sanctions and fines.

Basic Rules for Harvesting Mushrooms for Personal Needs

According to the State Ecological Inspection, Ukrainians have the legal right to collect mushrooms, berries, and wild herbs for their own needs free of charge and without any special permits in state and municipal forests. Completely different requirements apply to those who view forest resources as a source of income. If commercial harvesting or subsequent sale is planned, a citizen or entrepreneur is required to obtain a special permit document — a forest ticket.

Territorial Restrictions and Border Zones

The general right to gather gifts of nature for personal consumption does not at all mean complete freedom in choosing a location. Due to security considerations, strict bans are in effect in the country's border regions. According to orders from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, free entry, temporary stay, residence, and movement of persons, as well as any work not directly related to defense or border protection, are completely prohibited in a special strip one kilometer wide along the state border with Russia and Belarus. Nevertheless, it is a mistake to assume that all forests beyond this one-kilometer zone are automatically open: local military administrations and communities can introduce their own local bans.

Nature Reserve Fund Regime and Conservation Areas

Special attention should be paid to the regime of territories belonging to the nature reserve fund of Ukraine. According to explanations from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, collecting any mushrooms and berries is strictly prohibited in strictly protected conservation areas of national natural parks. At the same time, the boundaries of a national park can be divided into functional zones where rules vary. Before visiting such places, one must carefully study the zoning of a specific park so as not to inadvertently violate the special protection regime.

Contradictory Data

When analyzing liability for violations in the field of nature management, questions often arise regarding the amount of fines and the interpretation of articles of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (CUAO). For example, unauthorized mushroom picking in prohibited areas under Article 70 of the CUAO provides for a relatively mild fine for citizens ranging from 17 to 51 hryvnias. At the same time, for violating the regime of the nature reserve fund (Article 91 of the CUAO), sanctions are stricter — from 153 to 408 hryvnias, with possible confiscation of harvested resources. Experts note confusion in the public space, where these basic fines are sometimes mixed with severe sanctions for the illegal sale of wild plants (Article 88-1 of the CUAO), reaching several thousand hryvnias.

Liability for Violating Trade and Marketing Rules

The legislation clearly distinguishes between gathering mushrooms for personal consumption and their subsequent illegal sale. Violating the procedure for purchasing, distributing, or selling objects of the plant world is punishable under Article 88-1 of the CUAO with a fine of 510 to 1700 hryvnias, with or without confiscation of the goods. If the object of illegal trade is rare species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine or plants and mushrooms protected by international treaties, the amount of fines increases to 1700–3655 hryvnias, also with mandatory confiscation. Experts advise Ukrainians to carefully check current orders from local authorities before every trip to the forest.