The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a temporary ban on the export of unprocessed wood, which will be in effect until the end of 2025. The decision was made at the request of business after Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s visit to the Rivne region and is aimed at ensuring the needs of the population, preserving jobs at woodworking enterprises, and reducing the environmental burden.

The document provides for licensing exports with a zero quota, that is, until the end of the year, unprocessed wood cannot be exported abroad. This temporary restriction is aimed at stabilizing the domestic market and meeting the critical needs of communities.

According to the Prime Minister, the volume of logging in Ukraine has significantly decreased due to the full-scale invasion. Many woodworking enterprises are forced to operate at minimum capacity or idle, which negatively affects the regional economy and employment.

The importance of wood is especially felt in rural communities, where it serves as a key resource for heating in the winter. In addition, wood is necessary for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which makes it a strategic resource in the current conditions.

In addition to economic reasons, the decision also has an environmental aspect. The war caused significant damage to the environment: some forests were temporarily occupied or damaged by hostilities. Exporting unprocessed wood in such conditions would create an additional critical burden on the environment.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko emphasized that the government continues to develop systemic solutions to overcome the shortage of wood in the country and meet the needs of the population and the economy. The export ban is a temporary step to stabilize the domestic market and maintain environmental sustainability.