Kyiv Deputy Mayor Cites Police Pressure for Poor Winter Road Clearing

Road Clearing Issues in Kyiv

According to Главком: Kyiv's deputy mayor, Valentyn Mondriivskyi, claims that pressure from law enforcement is the primary reason for the city's failure to clear roads properly. According to city officials, thousands of criminal cases have been opened, searches conducted, and suspicions declared over alleged failures to meet snow-clearing standards. However, only two of these cases have resulted in final, legally binding convictions. Mondriivskyi states that every head of a district road service in Kyiv is currently under at least one official suspicion from law enforcement regarding their work.

Criminal Proceedings and Their Impact

In January 2026, the capital's prosecutor's office announced suspicions against nine managers of utility services, including the heads of seven district heating and power enterprises (HEPs) in areas such as Darnytskyi, Desnianskyi, Dniprovskyi, and Sviatoshynskyi. Since 2019, law enforcement agencies have initiated 1,587 criminal proceedings against employees of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) and its subdivisions. During this period, over 1,200 searches have been carried out and suspicions have been formally declared more than 300 times.

Mondriivskyi further explains that this constant pressure makes it extremely difficult for people to perform their duties.

"This started around 2019-2020, and the number of suspicions in the utility sector has only grown since then,"

he said. The deputy mayor argues that fear of potential legal consequences is causing workers to avoid carrying out their core responsibilities.

"Now, if you exceed the allowed amount of salt per square meter, law enforcement shows up immediately,"

he noted, pointing out that this often leads to suspensions or arrests. This legal environment is a significant challenge for municipal governance in Ukraine, where anti-corruption efforts sometimes clash with operational efficiency.

This winter, the dangerous state of roads and sidewalks has led to 6,169 people seeking treatment at trauma centers, with 1,221 requiring urgent hospitalization. Mondriivskyi emphasizes that the road-clearing situation in Kyiv requires an urgent solution, as pressure from law enforcement is preventing municipal enterprises from working effectively. The city's struggle highlights a broader tension between accountability and the practical demands of maintaining critical infrastructure during harsh winters.

The road-clearing crisis in Kyiv underscores the complex relationship between municipal services and law enforcement. Pressure from the latter can reduce the effectiveness of utility companies, which in turn negatively impacts resident safety and comfort. The high number of criminal proceedings against KCSA employees may instill fear in specialists, complicating their duties and contributing to a rise in public injuries. This issue demands immediate attention to ensure the normal functioning of the city's infrastructure.