Scandal over tree felling in Teremky: Police explain why the work Is continuing
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Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Preparatory work for the construction of a heating network in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi District is being carried out in accordance with a decision by city authorities and as part of the implementation of the capital’s Sustainability Plan
This was stated in a press release from the Kyiv Police published on Facebook.
The municipal enterprises involved—which are responsible for preparing the site, carrying out construction and installation work, and removing some of the greenery—have the necessary permits, which include provisions for compensatory landscaping and the restoration of the area’s amenities.
Statement from the Kyiv Police
The police emphasized that their officers are on-site “solely to ensure public safety, maintain public order, and prevent provocations and conflicts.”
What You Need to Know About the Situation
In late July, the Kyiv City State Administration reported that, as part of the Resilience Plan, a new heating pipeline is being built in the Holosiivskyi district to serve the Teremky-1 and Teremky-2 residential complexes.
To carry out this work within the construction corridor, some greenery must be removed. Once construction is complete, the area will be fully restored, landscaped, and new trees and other greenery will be planted.
Kyiv City State Administration
The tree cutting has sparked resistance among Kyiv activists. According to “Skyscraper,” people are protesting on-site against the destruction of the forest strip, with some attempting to shield the trees with their own bodies.
Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviychuk wrote on her Facebook page that “the felling of 600 trees in a Kyiv park is far from a trivial event, which is why questions are being raised.”
Why did construction of the heating pipeline—planned for 2023—not begin until 2026? What was done during those years to address problems proactively, rather than only when things are already in crisis? Will there be any conclusions drawn? Why was the decision made to deviate from the plan and route the pipeline through the park? To what extent does this help solve the problem?
Were the consequences of this decision assessed? Were alternatives explored? Are they definitely not viable? If there are no alternatives and we have to sacrifice the park, what guarantees are there that everything will be completed and operational by December? Will the problem be solved? Will the boiler plant’s capacity be sufficient? Is it possible to modernize it given its proximity to residential buildings?
Why aren’t all the municipal and state agencies responsible for environmental protection voicing their position, but instead remain silent or complain that they are not being allowed into the park? Who is barring official environmental agencies from entering? And these are by no means all the questions.
Oleksandra Matviychuk Ukrainian human rights activist
Author
Olexander Iliushchenkov Deputy Editor-in-Chief
All materialsHe studied at the School of Journalism at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. He has been working in journalism since the early 2010s. He has worked for the publications "Rakurs," 112.ua, "Ukraine World News," and "Novyny. Live."