How long can you store firewood without facing legal issues? An explanation from the authors of the bill.

The law passed by the Verkhovna Rada allows Ukrainians to store 30 cubic meters of pine firewood or 15 cubic meters of oak. This regulation will technically come into effect only at the beginning of the next heating season.

This was stated by one of the authors of bill No. 9665, MP Maksym Pavliuk, as reported by RBK-Ukraine referencing a statement from the party "Servant of the People".

The MP claims that the law is designed to stop illegal logging and is aimed at combating "black loggers" and "illegal sawmills".

"In other words, an individual bears no responsibility for storing 30 cubic meters of pine firewood or 15 cubic meters of oak. This is the amount needed by a household for the heating season, and even a bit more as a reserve," said Pavliuk.

He added that for criminal liability to apply, the value of the stored wood must exceed 30,000 UAH, which, according to DrovayE, corresponds to 30 cubic meters of pine or 15 cubic meters of oak.

As the MP noted, if someone, understanding the complexity of the situation and the uncertainty in the energy sector, has prepared more than 15 cubic meters of oak firewood or 30 cubic meters of pine for this winter, they have nothing to worry about.

"The law does not have retroactive effect, so state authorities, including the police, have no right to demand documents for the wood acquired before the law comes into force," the bill's author stated.

Pavliuk declared that even technically, this part of the law's provisions will not come into effect until the preparations for the next heating season begin.

Prison for Firewood

Recall that the Verkhovna Rada passed the law (bill №9665) on October 10, which outlines responsibility for storing firewood without documents. It is now awaiting the President's signature.

The law stipulates:

• a fine of 34,000 UAH for storing firewood if its value is assessed at up to 30,000 UAH,
• from 5 to 7 years of imprisonment if the value of the wood exceeds 30,000 UAH.

The law imposes fines on citizens even for small quantities of wood – starting from 1 cubic meter, if they do not have documents proving its origin.