Gas Supply Crisis at 28/15 Budivelnykiv Street
Since May 7, 2026, residents of building 28/15 on Budivelnykiv Street in Kyiv's Dnipro District have been cut off from gas service. The shutdown was triggered by a gas leak and insufficient draft in the chimneys. Official inspections of ventilation ducts, carried out by the specialized firm TOV Spetsgaz, cited violations as the reason for the disconnection. On May 16, 2026, representatives of Kyivgas blocked gas access to each apartment.
This five-story Stalin-era building dates back to 1953. An emergency crew from AT Kyivgas responded to a fuel leak in one of the apartments. A periodic inspection report, number BB/14052026-0/4721, was filed on May 14, 2026. Residents report that TOV Spetsgaz quoted 2,000 to 3,000 hryvnias per apartment for required retrofitting. However, an official ventilation duct inspection from the Management Company, dated February 5, 2026, had previously confirmed the systems were in good working order.
Similar Incidents in the Past
This situation mirrors events from winter 2018, when the same building lost gas access due to missing project documentation for gas water heaters. At that time, TOV Vatra-Gaz Service handled the work, with project costs ranging from 12,000 to 20,000 hryvnias. Residents have since filed complaints with the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission, law enforcement, and anti-corruption agencies, accusing utility services of corruption and reliance on outdated standards.
Residents point to several root causes:
- Soviet-era regulations;
- Lack of specialized soot-cleaning pockets in chimneys;
- Use of aluminum connecting pipes between gas appliances and chimneys instead of stainless steel;
- Requirements for forced ventilation in rooms with open-combustion gas water heaters.
“Such pockets were included in Stalin-era designs, but not all residents know about them today. Yet, almost every schoolchild knows that soot only forms from incomplete combustion, and natural gas (unlike coal or wood) produces virtually no soot buildup. Still, flue ducts must be cleaned every six months.” - Building residents
Additionally, the Kyiv City Council has approved a 2.7 billion hryvnia increase in the authorized capital of the municipal enterprise Kyivteploenergo. The situation at 28/15 Budivelnykiv Street remains critical, and residents are hoping for a swift resolution to their gas supply issue.
The gas cutoff on Budivelnykiv Street highlights a broader problem of outdated norms and service system flaws in residential buildings, particularly regarding gas safety. Residents express concern about corrupt practices within utility services, which could complicate future resolutions. The urgency of safety and living quality issues stays high on the agenda, especially as the capital's infrastructure ages.