The Bolkhov District Court ordered farmers to pay compensation for the mass death of bees in…

The Bolkhov District Court ordered farmers to pay compensation for the mass death of bees in apiaries in June 2025. One beekeeper was awarded 2,037,807.60 rubles, and another 4,061,417.70 rubles. The farmers must also cover the costs of the court examination and state fee.

The court found that the bee deaths were caused by treating rapeseed crops with an insecticide containing fipronil, a substance deadly to honey bees. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of this toxin. The farmers failed to notify nearby apiary owners about the upcoming field treatment, violating the Federal Laws on "Safe Handling of Pesticides and Agrochemicals" and "Beekeeping in the Russian Federation."

The court decision has not yet come into legal force.