Two disputed plots near the Belarusian border became the focus of court battles, revealing how valuable strategic land changed hands.

The Commercial Court of Rivne Region has ruled to return more than 85 hectares of defense land located in the border zone near the border with the Republic of Belarus to the state. The total value of the two land plots exceeds UAH 141 million.

30 hectares of land returned following a lawsuit against the Zarichne Settlement Council

In June, a Deputy Prosecutor General filed one of the lawsuits in the interests of the state against the Zarichne Settlement Council. The dispute concerned a 30-hectare land plot.

In 2019, the Nenovychi Village Council registered municipal ownership of this land; its legal successor is the Zarichne Settlement Council. At the same time, the plot is located entirely within the two-kilometer border zone.

Such territories are classified as defense land and may be exclusively state-owned. Legislation establishes a special land-use procedure for the border zone.

On August 10, the court ordered the plot to be recovered in favor of the state. The value of the 30 hectares of defense land is UAH 63.9 million.

The state also recovered 55.25 hectares in Sarny District

Another land plot covering 55.25 hectares was returned to the state following a lawsuit filed by the Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Western Region. The value of this land is estimated at UAH 77.4 million.

In June, the prosecutor’s office filed a lawsuit against the Myliatska Village Council. Prosecutors found that in 2022, municipal ownership was unlawfully registered for land also located within the two-kilometer border zone in Sarny District.

On August 11, the Commercial Court of Rivne Region ordered the Myliatska Village Council to remove obstacles to the use of the plot and return it to the state, represented by the Rivne Regional State Administration.

Thus, following the consideration of two prosecutors’ lawsuits, more than 85 hectares of defense land with a total value exceeding UAH 141 million have been returned to the state.

– Office of the Prosecutor General

The court rulings restored state ownership of defense land that is of particular importance for protecting the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.