The latest protest against tree felling in Teremky Park led to a clash between municipal security staff and protesters, who lay down in the path of heavy machinery. Plans are in place to lay a backup heating supply line to the Teremky-1 and Teremky-2 housing estates. Work began this morning to cordon off the area.
As reported by the media outlet ‘Suspilne’, both opponents of the park’s deforestation and those in favour of building the heating pipeline along this route gathered at the site.
On the morning of 21 September, law enforcement officers were deployed to the construction site to guard the area. According to reporters, the builders began welding work at that time; they are erecting metal structures to enclose the site with a fence, thereby blocking access for local residents.
"People took to the streets because, after a month of negotiations, we were presented with the very same project as at the start. And when they tell everyone that a certain number of trees will be spared — those trees weren’t supposed to be felled in the first place. They’re small trees growing alongside the future road. Nothing has changed. People want to save the park,” said Natalia, a local resident.
Other viewpoints — both doubts and support
Residents point out that it was indeed cold in the flats during the winter, regardless of their distance from the boiler room. However, opinions differ on this point. In particular, a local resident, Vita, has serious doubts that a cycle path will be built here at all. In her view, the park is being destroyed to make way for a car park for a residential complex. She also points out that there are no permits for tree felling or for erecting a fence.
"They’re cutting down the tree line right now. I very much doubt it’s going to be a heating pipeline. I walk around Teremky; I know Teremky very well. For example, on Kasiana Street, some trees were cut down… well, I don’t know, maybe a dozen, maybe 20. But not 600, like here! There’s an ecosystem here, and lots of animals live here,” said Vita.
There were also residents who supported the construction of the heating pipeline in its current form.
"My daughter is always freezing. That’s not normal for a person. She works at school, comes home… She gets cold there, at school, and now when she comes home — it gets chilly in the evening. It’s cold! I’ve covered all the plants, moved them into one room and turned on the heater," said Natalia.
They dragged him out by force
Some of the residents tried to walk past the security guards, whilst others lay down on the ground to prevent heavy machinery from passing through. As a result, they were forcibly removed from the premises by municipal security staff.
The authorities’ position
The Kyiv City State Administration stated that the security guards had acted lawfully, without any abuse of power or unlawful conduct. They were apparently called in to prevent unauthorised persons from entering the area where specialised equipment was being operated.
The authorities also added that logging had not resumed. At present, only earthworks are being carried out on the site — digging trenches and erecting fencing.
"The heating network is being laid according to an optimised plan, which will make it possible to save around 160 trees. Around a dozen trees will be felled, whilst the rest, which are necessary for the works to be carried out, will be pruned, the administration has stated," — wrote the Kyiv City State Administration.
On Tuesday, 22 September, the Kyiv City State Administration’s plans for tree felling became even more modest. The deputy head of the administration, Petro Panteleev, stated that “five to ten trees, no more” would be removed.
As a reminder, in early August, protesters were already being dragged away by force from the site where trees were being felled. It emerged at that time that there were plans to fell over 660 trees, including some over 100 years old. The authorities had not obtained the necessary permits, having invoked Government Resolution No. 393, which removed this ‘red tape’ in order to implement sustainability plans.
It later transpired that the Kyiv City State Administration had not received approval of the plan from the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, which contravenes the requirements of the resolution.
The Architects’ Association proposed alternative routes, but the capital’s authorities rejected them.
