The Ministry of Culture issued an official order to the Kyiv city authorities regarding the immediate adoption of measures for the conservation and protection of the site from further destruction. Due to the lack of a drainage system in the 8-meter excavation pit, water constantly accumulates, threatening the integrity of 11th–12th-century artifacts and the structures of the square itself. This was reported by Annabella Morina, the founder of the NGO "Pochaina Public Movement".
The situation surrounding the creation of the underground museum on Poshtova Square has remained unresolved since 2013. Despite Verkhovna Rada Resolution No. 2492-VIII from 2018, which prohibited the construction of a shopping center at this site, and a Supreme Court decision from 2022, the territory still remains within the boundaries of the old investment project. This legal restriction prevents full funding for the museum infrastructure and the carrying out of necessary conservation work on the unique finds.
As of today, experts have officially recorded a number of technical problems requiring urgent resolution to preserve the historical heritage. Inspection reports from the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the KMDA dated January 30, 2025, and February 25, 2026, confirmed the site's critical condition, and the Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies identified a risk of an emergency due to the threat of structural collapse.
The cost of a comprehensive survey of the underground space is currently estimated at 1.75 million UAH, but the city is waiting for these funds from the shopping mall investor, who has long failed to respond to the authorities' appeals.
According to civic activists, current legislation allows the monument's inspection to be funded from the Reserve Fund of the City of Kyiv, without waiting for actions from commercial structures.
However, a discussion is currently underway regarding the sources of funding, as the investor involved in the shopping mall construction project has been ignoring letters from city departments for years.
The lack of a clear position has led to archaeological finds standing without proper conservation since 2017, gradually deteriorating under the influence of external factors.
As a result of a meeting between the initiative group and representatives of the Ministry of Culture, an order was issued mandating the KMDA to immediately begin emergency prevention measures on Poshtova Square.
The document has already been sent to the city administration for implementation. The future fate of the museum depends on the promptness of the city services' actions, as prolonged flooding significantly worsens the condition of the ancient wooden log structures and shore fortifications from the era of Kyivan Rus'.
