Amber chaos grips Ukraine as mafia‑style operators strip land, regulators sidelined by wartime crisis

Rivne, northwest Ukraine, has been plagued by illegal amber mining for years, leaving behind barren landscapes and environmental devastation. The golden fossilized resin, highly sought after in China, has fueled a black market industry that has devastated vast swathes of land. Ukraine started regulating the industry just a few years before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. However, stretched for resources due to the ongoing war, industry figures warn that progress in cleaning up the sector is being wasted.

Unregistered "grey" amber is flooding the market, and environmental inspections have been suspended, relying on private security groups, some armed with weapons siphoned from the front, to protect their sites. Oleg Bogelsky, co-owner of Ukraine's Amber Galbin group, estimated that around 60-70% of all amber being mined in Ukraine is "grey". He described the situation as "real chaos" and an "ecological catastrophe".

Former miners admit to operating illegally, disregarding the environment, and destroying trees and plants. Ukraine passed a law in 2019 to regulate amber mining, mandating less intrusive practices and excavation based on approved plans. Permits were issued mainly for areas heavily damaged by illegal mining, requiring private businesses to restore the land to its original state. Official exports of unprocessed amber grew from 0.61 tonnes in 2020 to 88.83 tonnes in 2025.

However, martial law imposed in 2022 suspended inspections and environmental audits, leaving regulators with limited insight into illegal activities. Mykola Kotniuk, chairman of the Amber Business Association of Ukraine, acknowledged that some subsoil users may be extracting illegally with permits only for pilot and exploratory work.

Cases of flagrant illegal pumping are still isolated, but the state is urged to resume inspections and tighten regulations to prevent those who bend the rules from gaining a competitive advantage.