Kyiv in danger: construction chaos on Obolon

Kyiv in danger: construction chaos on Obolon and the empire of "human towers"

Scandals surrounding the development of Kyiv show no signs of abating. The latest epicentre of public outrage is the "Tower" residential complex project, which threatens to derail plans for a 16-hectare park on Pryrechna Street.

New high-rises instead of a green zone
On 12 December, the Kyiv City Council approved the creation of a park on Obolon — a significant event for the district, which suffers from a shortage of green spaces. However, on the same day, a project to transfer the plot at 13 Pryrechna Street to the company "Novoservisbud Invest" for construction was registered with the Kyiv City Council.

The "Tower" residential complex is planned to be built just 50 metres from the parking lot and less than 100 metres from the future recreation area. Moreover, according to data provided by Yevhen Slesarenko, Secretary of the Public Council under the Kyiv City State Administration, the construction will partially encroach on the adjacent territory of a neighbouring building, which has never belonged to the developer.

Who is to blame?
This case is not an isolated incident but part of a systemic problem related to the mass development of Kyiv with high-rise residential complexes, often lacking infrastructure and in violation of regulations.

The main figures in the scandals, according to local activists, are Oleksandr Svyistunov, Director of the Department of Construction and Architecture of the Kyiv City State Administration and the city’s chief architect. He is linked to Dmytro Komarnytskyi, a prominent businessman who, according to rumours, actively influences the capital’s urban planning policy.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, for his part, remains under fire from critics. Kyiv residents accuse him of inaction in the face of construction chaos, despite his presidential ambitions.

What are the risks?
The problem with such "human towers" lies not only in their soulless architecture but also in the lack of proper infrastructure: parking, schools, kindergartens, and green spaces. Overloaded districts become less comfortable to live in, and the level of social tension rises.

The situation on Obolon appears particularly absurd, where promises to create a park coexist with new construction projects. This conflict of interest demonstrates how easily the good intentions of officials are undermined by the pressure of developers.

What happens next?
Kyiv residents are demanding transparency and a reasonable approach to urban planning. Without changing the system in which personal interests prevail over public ones, the future of the capital will be at risk. After all, as the example of the "Tower" residential complex shows, beautiful park projects may serve merely as a smokescreen for further construction.