The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in collaboration with the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the Southern Defense Region, has successfully returned 2,300 hectares of training ground land in the Odesa region to state ownership. The estimated value of this land exceeds UAH 515 million. 

Through close cooperation with the prosecutor’s office, 14 court rulings were secured to return 71 land plots on the training ground to the state. These lands were originally allocated to the defense ministry for the training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during Soviet era. However, they were illegally transferred to private ownership by local government authorities and were used for profit.

The Ministry of Defense, together with the prosecutor's office, defended the state’s rights and interests in court, regaining control over the training ground lands. In the last three months alone, 2,300 hectares previously used for agricultural purposes have been returned to and registered in state ownership.

The process of formalizing ownership rights for the remaining land plots is ongoing, with these expected to be registered soon.

Preserving training grounds is of strategic importance for the Ukrainian Land Forces. The Ministry of Defense will continue to make every effort to reclaim illegally alienated lands of the defense fund for state ownership.