For the first time, Ukraine managed to recover more than $2.4 million (about UAH 65 million) from a foreign shipowner for pollution of sea waters in the port of Yuzhny.. The case was an important legal achievement, because for the first time the shipowner's liability for environmental damage was proven. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General. On April 30, 2020, in the port of Yuzhny, during the unloading of the STAVANGER vessel, an uncontrolled discharge of 8.5 tons of a dangerous mixture of palm olein and stearin was carried out.

These actions grossly violated the requirements of the 1973 International Convention. on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which obliges member countries to comply with standards for the protection of the marine environment. Pollution of the internal sea waters of Ukraine caused damage to the state in the amount of 2 million 417 thousand dollars (at the NBU exchange rate at the time of going to court - 64 million 808 thousand UAH).

With the principled position of the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office, a lawsuit was initiated against the foreign shipowner company. The economic court of the Odessa region satisfied the claim of the prosecutor's office, recognizing the company's actions as violating international law. This decision was confirmed by the decision of the South-Western Economic Court of Appeal and the decision of the Supreme Court as part of the Economic Court of Cassation.

In 2022, it was possible to partially fulfill the court decision, collecting 36.5 million from the budget.. UAH. The final execution of the decision took place on January 17, 2025, when the balance in the amount of UAH 28.2 million was collected. The total amount of compensation amounted to almost 65 million. UAH. , which is equivalent to more than 2.4 million. dollars.

The pollution incident in the port of Yuzhny became not only an environmental disaster, but also a challenge for the legal system of Ukraine. The successful completion of a trial has several important consequences:.

The prosecutor's office plans to strengthen monitoring of environmental offenses, as well as improve mechanisms for cooperation with international organizations to prevent environmental pollution. This also highlights the importance of compliance with environmental standards for shipping companies operating in Ukrainian territorial waters.