The government has suspended Viktor Smal, head of the State Forestry Agency
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Viktor Smal, Head of the State Agency for Forest Resources of Ukraine.
This decision is set out in Government Order No. 638-r of 1 July 2026, published on the Government portal.
According to the document, Viktor Smal has been suspended from his duties as head of the State Agency for Forest Resources of Ukraine for the duration of the disciplinary proceedings.
By a separate Cabinet of Ministers decree No. 637-r, the Commission on Senior Civil Service Matters has been tasked with conducting the disciplinary proceedings.
The Commission is to conduct an investigation by 8 August 2026 and, upon its completion, inform the government of the results.
Furthermore, by Order No. 639-r of 1 July 2026, the government appointed the agency’s First Deputy Head, Volodymyr Buchko, to temporarily perform the duties of the Head of the State Forestry Agency.
In addition, with effect from 1 July 2026, the duties of Director-General of the state-owned enterprise ‘Forests of Ukraine’ have been assigned to Igor Zubovich, Chair of the Commission on the Transformation of the Enterprise.
