Do the punishments established in chapter 26 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation correspond to the nature of ecological crimes?

Purpose: Analysis of the nature of ecological crimes, establishment of the place of ecology among the objects of criminal-legal protection in relation to the types and measures of punishments listed in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Methodology: Analytic, structural-functional and formal - legal approaches were used in the article. Results: The article points out the discrepancy between the significance of the objects of ecological crime, among which there are lifes and health of an unspecified number of persons, and the types and measures of punishments imposed for commission of such crimes. To correct this situation, the authors propose to allocate qualified elements of ecological crimes into additional parts of the existing articles in Chapter 26 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Novelty/originality/value: The article has a certain scientific value, because the authors carry out a critical analysis of the shortcomings of the current criminal law in terms of establishing responsibility for environmental crimes and make suggestions for improving the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.