A new scandal has erupted in Kyiv around the historical estate of Sofia Gorbunova at 6 Alla Tarasova Street due to the threat of demolition. The relevant Department of the Kyiv City State Administration conducted an urgent inspection of the site after activists recorded the appearance of a protective construction screen and scaffolding around the building constructed in 1899. This was reported by the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the Kyiv City State Administration in response to a request from "Nash Gorod".
Unique status of the site and complete absence of permits
According to the results of the electronic database check, it was found that officials had not issued any documents for the commencement of work. The historical building is not officially listed as a monument, but it is located in an area with many strict monument protection statuses.
The land plot under the building has the following unique restrictions:
- it is located directly within the Central Historical Area of the city of Kyiv;
- it falls within the boundaries of the buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Kyiv: Saint Sophia Cathedral and related monastery structures, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra";
- it lies within the territory of a national significance archaeological monument – the cultural layer of "Yaroslav's City" of the ninth-thirteenth centuries;
- it is located simultaneously within the architectural and archaeological protection zones of the capital.
Due to this special status, any urban planning or land work here is subject exclusively to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. At the same time, as of the end of June 2026, the project documentation for the site had not been approved by the Department, and the agency had not issued any permits for the work.
Secret concrete structures and the reaction of city authorities
Inspectors have already conducted a visual inspection of the area around Gorbunova's estate and drew up an official report. No direct dismantling of walls was found during the inspection, but other illegal actions by the builders were recorded.
Based on the monitoring results, specialists identified the following violations:
- gross interference with the surface soil layer around the historical building has been recorded;
- an unfinished, likely reinforced concrete structure in the form of a wall has been discovered on the land plot;
- as of the date of the response, the relevant agency is already preparing legal response measures within the framework of current legislation.
Previously, activists noted that two private companies planned a large-scale reconstruction of these buildings into a hotel and shopping complex. These firms are associated with developers already known in Kyiv for controversial projects involving adding extra floors to historical buildings and unauthorized underground work in the center.
For more details on how the cultural heritage protection system works in Kyiv, why fines do not stop developers, what is happening with high-profile sites, and what changes are proposed for the real protection of the historical environment – read the interview with the Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the Kyiv City State Administration, Maryna Solovyova.
