Why Preserving Kyiv’s Historic Architecture Matters
In a recent interview, Hanna Bondar—a member of parliament and trained architect—discussed the critical need to protect Kyiv’s historic buildings, the flaws in current urban planning documents, corruption risks tied to reconstruction, and the urgent push for a new Urban Planning Code. Just days before Kyiv’s city day, a Russian attack damaged several major cultural landmarks, including the Kyiv Opera House, the National Art Museum, and the Chernobyl Museum, which was hosting an exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. The Lukianivka Market was also destroyed.
Ukraine’s parliament is actively working on the Urban Planning Code, but references to it have been removed from the draft Anti-Corruption Strategy submitted by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention to the government. Bondar, who previously served as Kyiv’s acting chief architect, stressed that the current general plan for the city is “highly unbalanced.” Since 2006, thousands of land plots have been issued for development in violation of that plan. While a zoning project for the city center exists, it has yet to be adopted.
Urban Planning Challenges and Development Regulation
Bondar pointed to Dnipro as a model for Kyiv, noting that the city has developed nearly all necessary urban planning documentation. Meanwhile, conflicts with developers persist in the buffer zone of the UNESCO-listed Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. In one alarming case, the historic Zelensky family estate was demolished. A draft law, No. 11481, has been prepared to regulate valuable historic buildings, but it has received roughly a thousand amendments. Notably, since 2020, it has been impossible to legally protect historic architectural ensembles—only individual monuments remain under state protection.
'Any planning document is not a creative doodle—draw whatever I want. It is a calculated document.' Hanna Bondar
She emphasized that historic buildings form the “historical backdrop” that gives context to any monument. Architecture, she said, is a free profession, much like writing, composing, medicine, or law. She also stated: “If an owner mistreats a monument, the state should have the preemptive right to buy that building.”
The demand for justice has grown, Bondar noted, adding that “some soldiers have already returned from the front—these are veterans.” She stressed the importance of involving the community in urban planning discussions from the earliest stages, saying, “Discussions with the community should not start only when a green fence goes up.” Her role as a lawmaker, she explained, is to “create a framework that encourages involving people at a very early stage of discussion.”
Regarding urban planning reform, draft law No. 5655 would have required authors to waive their property copyright in favor of the client, but the president never signed it. Since 2021, the Hostynnyi Dvir (Guest House) has been transferred to the management of the National Reserve of Saint Sophia of Kyiv. In 2018, parliament adopted a resolution to preserve the historical and cultural heritage at Poshtova Square, calling for the creation of a National Museum of the Medieval City Center there. However, new state institutions cannot be established during wartime.
As Ukraine faces the destruction of its cultural heritage and the challenge of rebuilding, discussions about urban planning—especially in Kyiv—are more urgent than ever. Supporting legislative initiatives like the Urban Planning Code and draft law No. 11481 could be key to protecting historic landmarks and reducing corruption in reconstruction. Engaging the public early in planning decisions is essential for transparency, accountability, and preserving the capital’s cultural identity. Learning from cities like Dnipro may help Kyiv build effective regulatory frameworks for development.
As the city grapples with the aftermath of recent attacks on cultural landmarks, the Kyiv City Council's upcoming decisions on land and housing policies will play a crucial role in shaping the capital's recovery. With the urgent need for a comprehensive Urban Planning Code, effective regulation of historic sites is more important than ever to preserve the city's architectural heritage.