Vladivostok sues over illegal felling of 229 trees in eco-park

Vladivostok authorities have taken legal action after 229 trees were illegally cut down in Akademichesky Eco-Park. The incident caused 2.95 million rubles ($33,000) in damages. Officials are now pursuing compensation through the courts. The illegal felling occurred at 105 Kirov Street, within the protected eco-park. Tree removal in such areas is only allowed with official permission from the Ecological Monitoring Department. Since the start of 2026, the city has recorded 72 cases of unauthorised tree cutting, with total damages exceeding 25 million rubles ($280,000).

Alexander Volobuyev, head of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management Department, confirmed the lawsuit. The city filed claims against Russian Railways (RZD) to recover the environmental losses. So far, 2.6 million rubles ($29,000) have been returned to the local budget.

Those responsible for the illegal felling may face administrative or criminal charges. The severity of penalties will depend on the scale of the damage caused. The case highlights the ongoing issue of illegal tree felling in Vladivostok. Authorities have recovered part of the damages but continue to pursue further compensation. Violators remain liable for their actions under the law.