Barbana Estate Demolition: Titushky Attack, Culture Ministry Outrage and NSDC Decision

NSDC decided to audit all architectural monuments in Ukraine.

On August 20, the NSDC decided at a meeting to restore the destroyed part of the Barbana estate and audit all architectural monuments in Ukraine. Here is the main information about the demolition of the estate. 

Activists and the titushky attack

The Barbana estate is a historic 19th-century building. Activists claimed that the Ministry of Culture had banned construction on the estate site and issued a corresponding order. 

On August 12, police carried out investigative actions. Activist Oleh Symoroz said that during them it turned out the developer knew about the Culture Ministry order suspending any construction work. 

The same day, the developer was summoned for questioning, and the community testified about failure to comply with the order's requirements, continued construction work and regular threats. Local residents were assured that investigators would initiate an arrest request before the prosecutor's office under Article 356 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized actions). 

According to activists, the building is located in the city's central historic area, therefore under the law, any construction work there is prohibited without permission from the relevant cultural heritage protection body. 

Local residents came out to the estate to prevent construction equipment from passing. The developer wanted to demolish the building and allegedly build a shopping and entertainment center. 

On August 18, broadcasts appeared on social media that titushky attacked the defenders of the building and staged a brawl. However, the equipment still could not enter. Activists managed to approach the building and showed on video that a tunnel was being dug under it, and cracks were already on its walls, although the developer officially stated it planned foundation reinforcement work. 

Construction equipment that arrived to help was dressed in sportswear and covered faces with medical masks. The company carrying out work on the estate is LLC "Information Group Metropolitan News Agency". 

Detention of activists and Culture Ministry statement

On August 19, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy said that it had exhausted all mechanisms of influence over the situation with construction on the Barbana and Osip Rodin estates. 

"Unfortunately, due to the inaction of the Kyiv city authorities, the capital is currently losing several architectural monuments. In particular, the Barbana and Osip Rodin estates. MKIP orders banning construction have been ignored. The ministry has no other legal mechanisms to influence the situation. However, the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) does. We call on Vitaliy Klitschko to immediately stop the arbitrariness of developers," the ministry said. 

The same day, police began detaining local residents protesting the construction. Law enforcement officers detained people with placards and took them to the Shevchenkivskyi police department. Activists Ilya Tkachenko and Yevgeny Cherepnya, who represent the movement "For Protasov Yar", were detained. 

According to "Hraty", the developer began dismantling the estate in the morning of August 19, and activists blocked the road in protest. Then police arrived and tried to force the activists to leave. 

Demolition of the estate

On August 20 at 5:00 a.m., construction equipment destroyed the Barbana house. Activist Oleh Symoroz said: "Despite promises from the Shevchenkivskyi police to stop construction work on Observatorna Street, 6, the developer drove in construction equipment at 5:00 a.m. at night under cover of 30 titushky and destroyed the Barbana house from the late 19th century." 

Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko expressed outrage at the cynical demolition of the estate in central Kyiv, which the authorities failed to protect from the developer. 

Oleksandr Tkachenko
Minister of Culture of Ukraine

I am writing this post both as minister and as a Kyivan. Horror and shame. These are the only words I can use to describe the situation around the Barbana house. Shame for the capital's authorities, who are unable to restrain the rampant developers. Horror at understanding where such lawlessness can lead. On the eve of Independence Day, in a European capital, at night, like thieves, unknown thugs are demolishing a historic late 19th-century building with construction equipment. Fully aware of the ban on any work and of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy's order banning construction. All of this was ignored. 

According to him, the destroyed house is "not a landmark of either national or local significance, and therefore the MKIP cannot appeal." 

Tkachenko noted that the KCSA did not support the Culture Ministry's bill on countering chaotic development: "That is why ugly trade and office centers are growing, destroying historical landmarks. Kyiv is turning from a flourishing, comfortable city with its own history into a faceless megalopolis. Horror and disgrace." 

NSDC decision

The National Security and Defense Council, at its meeting on August 20, decided to restore the destroyed part of the Barbana estate and audit all architectural monuments on the territory of Ukraine. 

Serhiy Nikiforov
Press Secretary of the President of Ukraine

The National Security Council considered several decisions. First, assess the destruction of the Barbana estate. If there is any criminal element, begin an investigation. Second, restore the destroyed monument. These are decisions of the National Security and Defense Council that concern various levels, including the police, the KCSA, the government and local councils in other regions. Prepare an audit of all architectural values across the entire territory of Ukraine. 

Klitschko's reaction to the NSDC decision

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reacted to the NSDC decision. According to him, the Council confused the KCSA with the Culture Ministry, and the latter is not fulfilling its direct duties. 

Vitaliy Klitschko
Mayor of Kyiv

Friends! It seems the NSDC has confused the KCSA with the Culture Ministry. Today the NSDC has taken an interest in architectural monuments because the Ministry of Culture has for a long time not fulfilled its direct duties. The Barbana estate was barbarically destroyed because the Culture Ministry approved the historical and urban planning justification and design documentation of the construction project at Observatorna, 6. 

According to him, the Culture Ministry has for three years ignored the KCSA's proposal to include 1,469 objects in the Cultural Heritage Register. He noted that the Gostiny Dvor on Kontraktova Square and "hundreds of other objects across the country" are being destroyed precisely because of the ministry. 

Klitschko believes the issue raised by the NSDC has indeed "become overripe." He promised that at the next session, the Kyiv City Council will consider a draft decision defining a list of 19th- and 20th-century cultural heritage objects that may be threatened with destruction or damage. 

The Kyiv mayor wants to introduce a moratorium on reconstruction of such objects: "If the Culture Ministry is unable, we will help."