In Kyiv, more than 6 hectares of land within the landscape monument and coastal protection zone of the Dnipro River have been put up for auction for construction. This is another attempt to sell a plot of land for development, on which the community has been seeking to create a park since 2015.
This was reported by activist Oleg Symoroz.
We're talking about three plots of land covering about 6.4 hectares in the Dnipro district of the city. Their owner, the state-owned Oschadbank, has put them up for auction as land "for the construction and maintenance of other public buildings." According to the bank's website, the starting price for the auction is over 323 million hryvnia.
"We have repeatedly written that we will not allow construction here, as this is a coastal park area that should be transferred to the city for use as a park, but the state bank has decided that the community's opinion is not important," the activist emphasizes.
Legal restrictions
In addition to the community's disagreement, there is another reason why construction is unacceptable: the territory is located within protected areas:
- The “Historical Landscape of Kyiv Hills and the Dnipro Valley” landmark. According to the Law “On the Protection of Cultural Heritage”, any transformations – architectural, urban planning, or landscape – are prohibited on such territories.
- The Dnipro river’s coastal protection strip. According to the Land and Water Codes of Ukraine, any construction work is inadmissible within 100 m from the water body.
The fact that this area should be a park zone is also confirmed by Kyiv’s General Urban Plan. The activist cites Articles 38 and 39 of the Land Code of Ukraine; in accordance with these, the use of land for buildings and structures is allowed only under urban planning documentation and in strict compliance with construction and state standards.
Relentless attempts at development
According to the activist, Ukrbud previously attempted to develop these plots. Later, in 2015, they became the property of Oschadbank. Since then, the active local community has been trying to get these lands back to the city to create a single park space called "Mykilska Slobidka."
The state bank has already tried twice to sell the land for development—in 2017 and 2024. At that time, community resistance stopped the sale.
“Nevertheless, to this day, we do not have an adequate position from the state-owned Oschadbank or the Government regarding resolving this issue. Moreover, despite numerous promises, we see that this land is once again being put up for development,” writes Oleh Symoroz.
Activists demand that the government resolve the issue with these plots. In a public appeal, they call for the prevention of transferring this land into private hands for development.
EcoPolitic previously reported that in Kyiv, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) referred the case regarding the illegal transfer for development of part of the nature reserve fund of national importance in Nivki Park to court.
Court proceedings are also ongoing regarding the illegal seizure and construction on land in the "Holosiivskyi" National Park.
