On January 22, 2026, the Think Ukraine analytical center organized an expert discussion dedicated to the urgent issue of urban development in Kyiv’s historic center. The relevance of the topic stems from the need to move away from constant conflict between local communities and developers toward a constructive strategy for the city’s development. The organizers and participants aimed to formulate concrete systemic solutions.
The discussion focused on whether a construction moratorium is an effective tool for protecting the historic area or merely a populist slogan that slows development. Participants sought to determine which steps should already be taken to ensure the capital develops in a civilized and balanced way — preserving its identity without turning into a frozen museum lacking infrastructure modernization. Particular attention was paid to the fact that existing mechanisms for protecting neglected historical buildings remain insufficient, and that the war should not serve as an excuse for postponing reforms.
Joining the discussion alongside Think Ukraine experts were:
- Artem Haripov — military officer, entrepreneur, founder and first commander of the 78th Air Assault Regiment “Herts,” and commander of a special forces unit under Ukraine’s military intelligence;
- Ihor Reva — officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, manager of state digital and veteran projects, co-founder of Think Ukraine;
- Volodymyr Nakonechnyi — Head of the Podil District State Administration;
- Vasyl Hoshovskyi — Head of the Licensing and Monitoring Department at DIAM (State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Planning of Ukraine);
- Oleksandr Kucheriavyi — assistant to a Member of Parliament, lawyer, and activist from Obolon district;
- Pavlo Peker — architect, founder of Peker & Partners, and co-author of the initiative to revitalize the Zhytniy Market;
- Dmytro Perov — heritage preservation expert and activist.
Experts concluded that Kyiv’s main problem lies in the systemic crisis of urban planning documentation: the outdated 2002 Master Plan and the manipulative use of local Detailed Territory Plans to facilitate chaotic development. Participants agreed that a total construction moratorium would represent ineffective populism that risks leading the city into stagnation.
Instead, they proposed introducing transparent “rules of the game” through strict limitations on building height and density, the development of a new Master Plan, and the full digitalization of permitting procedures in order to eliminate corruption-related human factors.
This event marks the beginning of a series of expert discussions within our broader research on Kyiv’s historical and cultural area. The goal is to move the issue of urban development in Kyiv from a conflict-driven framework toward a constructive dialogue and to establish effective cooperation between experts, authorities, and Kyiv residents in search of practical urban planning mechanisms that can be implemented in the governance of the capital.
