Skyscrapers of Molchanova under threat: Prosecutor’s Office challenges the DPT of the industrial area Voskresenskyi in Kyiv

In the near future, the court of first instance may issue a ruling in the case concerning the challenge of the Detailed Territorial Plan (DTP) for a part of the Voskresenskyi industrial district, which was approved by the Kyiv City Council in May 2023. The prosecutor’s office demands the cancellation of this document, among other reasons, because it alters the provisions of the current General Plan of the city, which contradicts the legislation.

The issue is that the city authorities have effectively "transformed" an industrial zone spanning 12.61 hectares, which is also located within the sanitary protection zone of a railway station, into a residential development area. As a result, JSC "Kyivmetal," the user of the respective plot and part of the sphere of influence of the controversial businesswoman Vladyslava Molchanova, gained the right to build eight residential "high-rises" (each 26 stories tall) there. While this case was "pending in court," the aforementioned company managed to obtain Urban Planning Conditions and Restrictions (UPCR) from the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) for the design of this development, as well as permits from the State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Planning (SIAP) for the construction of the first two phases of the residential complex. It is also noteworthy that "Kyivmetal" seemingly plans to "outsmart everyone" – the project documentation also includes the construction of three "administrative-office buildings" on the same site, which, in reality, will likely be arranged as residential apartments as well.

As reported by KV, on September 22, 2025, a hearing is scheduled at the Kyiv District Administrative Court (KDAC) in case No. 320/18828/24, within which the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office challenges the decision of the Kyiv City Council No. 6380/6421 "On the Approval of the DTP for the Reconstruction of Part of the Voskresenskyi Industrial District in the Dniprovskyi District of Kyiv" dated May 18, 2023.

At present, the state register of court decisions lacks information regarding all the arguments used by law enforcement in this dispute. However, as early as January 2025, after the filing of this lawsuit (which was submitted to the court in May 2024), the prosecutor’s office reported that the approval of the mentioned DTP does not align with Kyiv’s development strategy and essentially alters the provisions of the current General Plan of the city, posing a threat to the effective livelihood of residents in adjacent city districts.

Specifically, this document envisions the construction of eight 26-story residential buildings on land designated for industrial purposes. This concerns a territory of 12.61 hectares on Vyzvolyteliv Avenue, 1-9, which is part of a larger land plot of 13.71 hectares included in this detailed plan and used by JSC "Kyivmetal." According to law enforcement, it belongs to industrial-communal territory and is located within the sanitary protection zone of the "Kyiv-Dniprovskyi" railway freight station.

"Thus, the DTP was developed in violation of urban planning and land legislation, without considering state and public interests, which is why the prosecutor’s office requests the court to cancel it. According to the General Plan of Kyiv, a significant portion of these territories is designated as industrial-communal by functional purpose," emphasized the Kyiv prosecutor’s office.

Context

Since the late 1990s, "Kyivmetal" (engaged in the supply of rolled metal and providing related services in this field) has been leasing a land plot of 13.71 hectares from the Kyiv community, with the cadastral number 8000000000:66:264:0003, located at 5-7 Heorhiy Narbut Avenue (formerly Heroes of Vyzvolyteliv Avenue). The Kyiv City Council allocated this land to the company for the operation and maintenance of administrative and household buildings and a warehouse base. However, in the second decade of the new century, the mentioned joint-stock company decided to "reprofile" its activities – it can be assumed that this was related to a change in its "real" owners, which will be discussed below. As a result, in 2022, at the request of "Kyivmetal," a DTP was developed to legalize residential development on the territory used by this JSC.

In May 2023, the Kyiv City Council approved this document almost without discussion. In total, the mentioned DTP covered a territory of 115.9 hectares, bounded by Brovarskyi Avenue, Vyzvolyteliv Avenue, Perova Boulevard, Alisher Navoi Avenue, Raiduzhna Street, and Chelyabinska Street.

The city authorities declared that the adoption of this document would help "restructure and organize the industrial-communal territory" within this area for its "further multifunctional use." This initiative in the DTP project is explained, among other things, by the fact that most enterprises located within these boundaries have outdated and worn-out main production assets, their premises are leased out, and there is a "reduction in the supply of labor resources." In this regard, the city authorities traditionally aim to create a "new residential microdistrict with a full range of services, which should be integrated into existing residential areas (presumably referring to neighboring residential complexes) and connected to the city’s green zones." Thus, this territory will be "humanized" – currently, no one resides there.

The placement of the mentioned residential microdistrict was proposed specifically on the territory of "Kyivmetal." The total area of this residential development is set to be 12.61 hectares (the majority of the land used by "Kyivmetal"). The DTP project envisioned that the mentioned residential microdistrict would consist of eight buildings with built-in public-purpose premises on the ground floors. Additionally, the detailed plan stipulated that along the facade side of this residential development, a public zone with recreational space and parking lots for temporary car storage should be organized.

A plot of 13.71 hectares on the map

Even in the draft of this DTP, the construction of a multifunctional complex (MFC) with public and residential premises at the intersection of Brovarskyi and Vyzvolyteliv Avenues was taken into account, which has already been put into operation (by law, this should not have happened without an approved DTP). This refers to the 25-story residential complex "Freedom," which was initially built under the "banner" of "Ukrbud" and later under "Kyivmiskbud."

In total, the project of the mentioned DTP envisages the construction of 3,300 apartments, which can accommodate over 6,000 people. Additionally, on two plots (cadastral numbers 8000000000:66:264:0010 and 8000000000:66:264:0033, with areas of 0.39 and 0.53 hectares respectively), the construction of two MFCs was planned with predominant uses as "hotel" and "hotel with office premises," respectively.

The design solutions of this DTP also include the construction of a general education institution for 24 classes (720 places), two built-in preschool institutions with a total capacity of 200 places, and the placement of short-term stay groups for preschool-aged children totaling 34 places in a multifunctional complex with public and residential premises at the intersection of Brovarskyi and Vyzvolyteliv Avenues. As is known, all of this is implemented only if funds are allocated from the city budget. Moreover, the city authorities planned that within the area covered by the draft DTP, multi-story garages with a total capacity of 1,564 parking spaces and parking lots for another 1,564 spaces should be built.

During the public discussion and hearings regarding the draft of this DTP, which took place from November to December 2021, a number of activists and experts expressed their objections to this document.

In particular, public activist and defender of Ukraine Oleh Symoroz, in his appeal to the KCSA, expressed the opinion that the approval of this DTP legalizes the "Freedom" residential complex, which was built based on illegal UPCR for design. Most likely, he meant that the land plot under this residential complex is designated "for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a commercial-office center," while the UPCR were issued by the KCSA Department of Urban Planning and Architecture for the design of an MFC with residential and public premises.

Additionally, Symoroz pointed out that the DTP lacks "proper justification for the provision of social infrastructure" – referring to clinics and hospitals. Moreover, the activist noted that this DTP envisages the construction of residential buildings without considering the load on transport infrastructure. Specifically, he mentioned that there are currently significant traffic jams on Brovarskyi and Vyzvolyteliv Avenues and in the area of the "Livoberezhna" metro station, yet the developers of the DTP did not even include calculations of the throughput capacity of these transport arteries.

The opinion that the approval of the DTP for the reconstruction of part of the Voskresenskyi industrial district is not expedient at this time was also expressed by deputy Oleksandr Mishchenko (faction "European Solidarity"), who in the previous VIII convocation of the city council headed the Land and Urban Planning Commission of the Kyiv City Council. Among other things, he pointed out that during wartime, the focus should be on "defense" rather than "development." Additionally, Mishchenko expressed the view that in conditions of an unstable economic situation, developers would not be able to implement this DTP anyway. However, this stance did not prevent the deputy from voting "in favor" of this issue in the session hall.

Later, on February 8, 2024, the Kyiv City Council, by decision No. 7771/7812, approved the transfer of a land plot of 13.71 hectares at 5, 7 Heorhiy Narbut Avenue for lease to JSC "Kyivmetal" for the construction and maintenance of a multifunctional residential complex with parking lots, social and household facilities, office spaces, and commercial, entertainment, and market infrastructure facilities. Essentially, this was a "renewal" of the right to use this land (as mentioned earlier, the company had been using it since the late 1990s, but the term of the respective agreement had expired) and a change in its designated purpose. Previously, this plot had the designated purpose "for the placement and operation of main, auxiliary, and supporting buildings and structures of processing, mechanical engineering, and other industrial enterprises (for the operation and maintenance of administrative and household buildings and a warehouse base)." Thus, the city authorities took a second step toward legalizing residential development on this territory.

On September 11, 2024, the KCSA Department of Urban Planning and Architecture issued UPCR to JSC "Kyivmetal" for the design of construction at 5, 7 Heorhiy Narbut Avenue – on the aforementioned plot. This was the third step by the city authorities. According to the mentioned document, the company was allowed to design the construction of a "complex of residential buildings with built-in public-purpose facilities and preschool educational institutions, public-purpose buildings, transformer substations, a general education institution, and multi-level parking lots" on this territory.

These "urban planning conditions" established that buildings up to 85 meters in height could be constructed on the mentioned plot, although the maximum height must be determined in accordance with the conclusions of the State Aviation Service. The maximum allowable percentage of development of this land is set at 30% (for residential development), and the maximum population density is 540 people per 1 hectare (the final figure must be determined in accordance with the State Building Norms (SBN) taking into account the norms for the provision of places in general education institutions, social facilities, etc.).

Additionally, the UPCR noted that the plot under the future high-rises is partially located within the sanitary protection zone of drinking water supply sources, the sanitary protection zone of industrial enterprises, and sanitary gaps from above-ground garages and parking lots. In this regard, JSC "Kyivmetal" was obligated to carry out design in accordance with the requirements established by state authorities for such territories.

Among other interesting points of these UPCR – "Kyivmetal" must "provide for a duplicate road along the projected city-wide highway Troyeshchyna-Osokorky, as envisaged by urban planning documentation" (it is "recorded" in the DTP). In other words, the developer is required to ensure an additional road for the future residents of its buildings, but, apparently, only if the city authorities first build another road. And this may not happen – plans of the city leadership regarding the development of this highway became known as early as 2018, but these promises have not progressed beyond discussions.

Later, on June 11, 2025, the State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Planning (SIAP) issued to JSC "Kyivmetal" permit No. ІU013250605963 for the construction of the first phase of buildings at the mentioned address. This document approved the construction of two 26-story residential buildings with 751 apartments (one building with built-in non-residential premises), a single-story public-purpose building, and a transformer substation. Last month, on August 26, the same authority issued to "Kyivmetal" permit No. ІU013250820145 for the construction of the second phase of this complex of buildings. This approved the construction of two 26-story buildings with 693 apartments. In one building, there will also be a built-in preschool education institution with a capacity of 100 places, and in the other – built-in non-residential premises (presumably for commercial purposes). The general contractor for both phases of construction was declared as LLC "Spetsbud-Monolit."

In total, according to the developed and approved project documentation by the developer, eight residential buildings are planned to be built on this territory. At the same time, preschool educational institutions are to be located in two buildings (with a total capacity of 200 places), and built-in premises – in three buildings. Additionally, a school for 720 places, three public-purpose buildings, three multi-level parking lots, three administrative-office buildings, and four transformer substations are planned on this plot.

Interestingly, the aforementioned administrative-office buildings will each have a height of 57.3 meters (approximately 19 stories) and, it seems, will also be residential. The project documentation indicates that they will contain apartments – which typically differ from regular apartments only in the inability to register residency and higher utility tariffs. In other words, it is likely that the developers decided to "outsmart everyone" – to build even more housing than was envisaged by the DTP and UPCR.

Beneficiaries of the development

According to the analytical system Youcontrol, JSC "Kyivmetal" (until 2012 – CJSC "Kyivmetal") was registered in the capital in February 1996. The head of this company is listed as Maksym Milinevskyi-Hryshchenko. As of the second quarter of 2025, the owners of large share packages of JSC "Kyivmetal" were Nataliya Bernatska (23%), LLC "KUA ’Business-Garant’" (24%), LLC "Stolytsia Group" (24%), and the Cypriot company "Sparenton Limited" (18.9%).

The Youcontrol system classifies JSC "Kyivmetal" as part of the "BT INVEST" group of companies and the "Vladyslava Molchanova family" group. The main focus of activity for the first group, which encompasses around a hundred Ukrainian enterprises, is the management of development and retail projects. In Ukraine, "BT INVEST" manages the "Novus" retail store network, the "Best Imports" company, which imports products for the aforementioned chain, as well as the development company "Stolitsa Group". Key figures in this group are Lithuanian citizens Raimondas Tumenas, Maryna Poznyakova, and Agne Ruzgiene.

In turn, the "Vladyslava Molchanova family" group comprises over eighty companies primarily engaged in the construction and real estate sectors. The main asset of the group is the same development company "Stolitsa Group". Key figures in this group are businesswoman Vladyslava Molchanova and her son Ivan Molchanov.

A significant portion of "Stolitsa Group" projects have been, not without scandals, built and are being built in the capital’s Vynohradar area based on investment agreements signed with the state enterprise "ND VA ’Pushcha-Vodytsia’" (agro-complex "Pushcha-Vodytsia"). Thus, in this area, residential complexes such as "Warshavskyi", "Warshavskyi-2", "Warshavskyi-3", and "Warshavskyi Plus" are being constructed.

The National Police reported possible illegal alienation of these plots as well as that the land acquired for development by companies in the "Stolitsa Group" is significantly more expensive than the number of apartments they "promised" the agro-complex as payment for the investment agreements. As a result, the state enterprise could have been financially harmed—it was preliminarily about an attempt to drive it to bankruptcy. Numerous legal disputes are currently ongoing regarding the contestation of such agreements, as they, among other things, were likely signed with legal violations—such as without Cabinet approval.

Another controversial project by "Stolitsa Group" is the construction of the "H2O" residential complex—the former "Patriotica on the Lakes" complex—which was set to be built on 176 hectares of land in the capital’s Osokorky by the now-bankrupt "Arkada" bank. Investors of this complex accuse companies within Molchanova’s orbit of demanding additional payment for already purchased apartments and delaying construction—for three years after "Stolitsa Group" entered this project, not a single house was commissioned.

In turn, eco-activists demand that the construction of this complex be stopped and are legally challenging one of the permits for construction work. They point out that the developers did not receive approval from the cultural heritage protection authorities, even though they should have because the relevant site is part of the protected landscape zone. Moreover, according to eco-activists, these companies did not provide the State Architectural and Building Inspection with environmental impact assessment results or information about consultations on this issue with Kyiv residents.

Meanwhile, LLC "Kontaktbudservice" (the developer for "H2O" residential complex) is currently trying to legally contest the 2019 Kyiv Council decision to establish the "Osokorky Meadows" nature reserve (area - about 148 hectares) located near the mentioned residential complex.

Interestingly, the Office of the Prosecutor General recently had to join this legal case. Law enforcement explained their involvement due to the passive stance of the city authorities—they directly accused the Kyiv Council of failing to adequately protect state interests as it didn’t even attempt to prove to the judiciary that this territory is especially valuable and unique.

Companies associated with Molchanova are not hesitant to "push through" development on lands where residential buildings cannot be built at all. This is done partly through the approval of detailed plans and changes to land designation. According to experts, activists, and some city council members, the ultimate outcome of such measures will be excessive additional pressure on Kyiv’s ecology, engineering, and social infrastructure. For example, in 2021, the Kyiv Council approved the detailed planning of the Minsky Massif, which will allow one of the companies within "Stolitsa Group" to erect several high-rise buildings on nearly 32 hectares of the aforementioned "Pushcha-Vodytsia" agro-complex land. This detailed plan, like the detailed planning of the Resurrection industrial zone, is also being contested in court—one of the local community activists is the plaintiff.

But the most scandalous incident occurred at the beginning of September 2025 when NABU and SAPO informed Vladyslava Molchanova, her business partner and notorious ex-MP from the "Party of Regions" Yuriy Ivanyushchenko, and others about suspicions in a case regarding potential deals with land plots totaling 18 hectares under the "Stolychnyi" market in Kyiv (Sofiivska Borshchahivka). According to the investigation, these individuals, with the assistance of StateGeoCadastre officials, illegally privatized land which was previously used by the same "Pushcha-Vodytsia" agro-complex, and then transferred it to "their people". Molchanova calls the case a setup, considers herself as absolute good for the country, Kyiv, and the Armed Forces, and promises to defend "her honest name and reputation". At the same time, her circle is attempting to hinder the investigation in various ways. For instance, her common-law husband Serhiy Korovchenko wanted to challenge the seizure of a phone containing correspondence with Molchanova—he explained this by stating that he is her lawyer, so their communication is confidential.

It is also worth noting that the Youcontrol system previously classified JSC "Kyivmetal" as part of the "Myrimsky family group", which comprises 46 companies engaged in real estate rental, tourism, internet providing ("Smart-Media"), gambling business, etc. A key figure in this group is Viktoriya Myrimska—an entrepreneur and the wife of the late Ukrainian ex-MP of the II, IV, and VII convocations Lev Myrimskyi.

Lev Myrimskyi was elected to parliament all three times from district №2 in the now-occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and was known, among other things, as the leader of the "Union" party, which was oriented towards the residents of this peninsula. After the annexation of the peninsula, Lev Myrimskyi was in no hurry to condemn the Kremlin’s imperialistic plans, and stated the following: "A referendum took place in Crimea. I believe it was fair. Many differ on its legality, but that is a complex issue, and I would prefer not to delve into jurisprudence".

The change from individuals within Myrimskyi’s circle to those of Molchanova’s occured precisely in the mid-2023. For instance, it was at that time that Kyiv resident Tatyana Rebrova exited the list of ultimate beneficiaries—she is the owner of several companies related to the same "Myrimsky family group" (for example, LLC "Smartprominvest").

"Stolitsa Group" is also closely related to LLC "Specbud-Monolit"—the general contractor for the development on Havrylo Narbut Ave, 5, 7. This company has been declared as a contractor for several residential complexes by the mentioned developer, including the above-mentioned "H2O" and "Galaxy" residential complexes. Notably, until 2024, Vasyl Oliinyk was listed as the official owner of "Specbud-Monolit". After leaving this company, he served for more than a year as the Chairman of the Board for PrJSC "HC "Kyivmiskbud" (from February 2024 to May 2025). In 2021, "Stolitsa Group" calledOliinyk a partner "in implementing the company’s ambitious projects—referring to several residential complexes constructed by companies where he is the ultimate beneficiary of large holdings.< /p>

The Department of Land Resources of the Kyiv City State Administration has been headed by Valentyna Pelykh since June 29, 2021 (acting as head of this structure since April 2, 2021). Oleksandr Svystunov has held the position of Director of the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture of the Kyiv City State Administration since November 1, 2016. The activities of the "land" department are controlled by Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Vladyslav Andronov, while Deputy Head Vitaliy Klychko—Vyacheslav Nepop is responsible for the activities of the "urban planning" department.

Author: Oleksandr Hlazunov