The majority of Kyiv residents support the idea of organizing the space on Bessarabian Square, creating a barrier-free environment there, and building a fountain as part of the overall improvement of the territory. Despite heated public discussions about the appropriateness of a water feature, new sociological data confirms the city dwellers' demand for changes in the capital's center. This was reported reported by the Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, Valentyn Mondriivskyi, commenting on the results of a study by Gradus Research company.
What sociology says and how the votes were distributed
According to the Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, it is important to assess the community's attitude towards large-scale infrastructural changes based on representative data. The new survey, conducted in May 2026 among 2,000 Kyiv residents aged 18 to 60, is the second independent study after the 'Rating' sociological group, which has shown a clear position of Kyiv residents.
The results of the sociological survey demonstrated high levels of support. City residents want to see the location modern, accessible, and comfortable for recreation.
The figures from the study recorded the following community sentiments:
- 86% of respondents fully support the tidying up of the square and the creation of a barrier-free space with ground-level pedestrian crossings
- 80% of respondents approve of the idea of installing a fountain at the expense of a patron as an element of landscape improvement
- almost 67% of citizens chose the fountain as the best option for additional improvements to this historic location
Million-dollar tender and cost details from the patron
While sociological surveys are ongoing, the Kyiv City State Administration has already approved the final cost estimate for the large-scale project to renovate Taras Shevchenko Boulevard. A fountain in a pseudo-classical style will be built on the site of the former totalitarian monument opposite Bessarabian Market, and the total cost of the work is 51.9 million hryvnias, which at the current exchange rate is over one million euros.
The right to build the facility was won by the company "Rostdorstroy", which was the winner of the Prozorro tender under specific conditions – due to the absence of other competitors in the auction. The financial burden of implementing this costly construction is fully borne by private business. The pharmaceutical company Farmak acted as a patron and officially offered the city authorities to finance and install this facility specifically for its upcoming 100th anniversary.
In addition to the construction of the fountain itself, builders will have to carry out a large-scale renovation of the adjacent territory, which has been neglected for a long time.
The complex of planned works includes the following tasks:
- installation of new modern ground-level inclusive crossings from Khreshchatyk to Velyka Vasylkivska
- creation of a convenient barrier-free ramp instead of old granite stairs
- major renovation of 22 existing street benches for citizens' recreation
- replacement of surfacing and renovation of the pedestrian zone around the future fountain
Protests, criticism from urban planners, and project refinement
Despite high sociological figures, the project was approved against the backdrop of serious protests from the public and expert community. Part of the community demanded that the authorities hold an open architectural competition instead of approving a ready-made concept from one investor. Kyiv residents on social media also complained about the large amount of concrete and the dubious prospect of relaxing on benches "between two highways" with heavy traffic.
Read also: Fountain on the site of the Lenin monument: experts criticized the idea of the space near Bessarabka
Historians and toponymy specialists also expressed sharp criticism. The head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, Oleksandr Alfiorov, called the fountain an attempt to create a "grey zone" without meaning, as the space lacks clear semantic markers of identity or memory of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1920 and modern Heroes. Due to the irresponsibility of such a step, the relevant parliamentary committee even called on the city to hold public discussions with specialists.
Read also: Kyiv residents are debating a fountain instead of Lenin in the city center
Against this backdrop, the Capital Accessibility Council decided to involve universal design specialists in refining the concept. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has already given a strict order to the relevant departments to involve the expert community and consider the architects' proposals.
Read also: A fountain in place of Lenin. Will Kyiv change the project that angered residents?
In turn, the secretary of the Kyiv City Council's permanent commission on architecture, urban planning, and land relations, Yuriy Fedorenko, confirmed that the project could be changed. He emphasized that the authorities are obliged to respect the money of patrons, but at the same time must sit down with the community to correct all controversial aspects before starting active work.
