In Kyiv Oblast, the cost of demolishing the rubble of buildings destroyed by the Russian Federation may reach $5 billion

Preparation of design documentation and cost estimates for the reconstruction of a 7-9-story building, if it is 30-40% destroyed, will take at least 2 months and one and a half million UAH. The first element is the demolition of the rubble, without which further reconstruction is not possible. According to preliminary estimates, the cost of dismantling the rubble could reach $5 billion.

Maria Gutsman, head of the "Inclusive Development and Reconstruction" portfolio of the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine, and Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, spoke on Ukrainian Radio about the pace of economic recovery and who controls the process.

According to him, money for the reconstruction of the region is allocated by municipalities, regional authorities, as well as the Council of Ministers from the Fund for Eliminating the Consequences of Russian Aggression and international funds and national governments.

“We submit projects, and the government and United 24 have special committees that select facilities. The government itself has approved 18 multi-apartment facilities, so over 4,000 people will return home. By the end, we have to complete 15-16 objects this year, and the first objects will be handed over in October and November," said the head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration.

The official noted that 93 buildings were restored in the Kyiv region with money from the Government Fund for Elimination of the Effects of Armed Aggression: skyscrapers, medical and educational institutions.

The capital's officials have their own program for rebuilding private houses.

“These are 70-90-120 square redevelopment projects. If people have 150 squares, a maximum of 120 squares can be rebuilt. Private houses are being rebuilt in 5 occupied districts of the Kyiv region," said Ruslan Kravchenko.

How to arrange things in order, what to fix first?

According to Ruslan Kravchenko, the first priority for housing restoration are large families, disabled families and family members of soldiers.

“We are currently rebuilding the private sector in Irpin - 61 buildings, of which 31 buildings are undergoing comprehensive renovation and renovation, and 30 are being built from scratch. This district of Irpin was most affected by Russian aggression," he says. Kravchenko.

Representatives of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) assure that the reconstruction money will be spent as intended.

The organization helps ensure transparent quality of reconstruction, Maria Gutsman, head of the "Inclusive Development and Reconstruction" portfolio of the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine, told Ukrainian Radio.

“As part of our comprehensive reconstruction program, we are cooperating with the Kyiv Oblast in several directions. The first element is the demolition of the rubble, without which further reconstruction is not possible. According to preliminary estimates, the cost of dismantling the rubble may reach USD 5 billion," the expert said.

“Build it back better than it was.” What is invested in this concept?

“Build back better than before” is a principle rooted in a new approach to rebuilding infrastructure. These are different approaches to selecting materials, which should be environmentally friendly and high-quality, Gutzman says.

“We have a group of experts who accompany the project from the very beginning until its completion. A very important aspect of this work is minimizing and limiting corruption threats. It is also deep engineering support. In one of the buildings in Irpin, our engineers were informed that everything was happening very slowly. The residents themselves called. Our engineers came to the construction site, talked to the contractors, the client, the residents and established specific work indicators. Thanks to this, the process was accelerated. – assures the expert.

What is known about the reconstruction of the Kyiv region

As a result of hostilities around Kyiv in February-March 2022, destruction was reported in 46 out of 69 territorial municipalities of the Kyiv Oblast.

Critical damage was caused in the territorial communes of Buchanska, Irpinska, Gostomelska, Borodyanska, Makarovska, Velikodymersk and Piskivsk.

In total, 27,226 objects have been destroyed or damaged in the region since the beginning of the massive invasion of the Russian Federation. The main “hit” fell on apartments – 24,300 objects. Additionally, 227 schools and kindergartens, 125 administrative buildings and health centers, 128 medical facilities and 138 cultural and religious buildings were damaged.

As of early August 2023, 12,500 damaged structures have been completely and partially restored in the region: over 11,000 multi-apartment and private buildings, 187 kindergartens and schools, 101 medical facilities, 68 administrative buildings and medical clinics.

In the Kyiv Oblast, they create the Regional Renovation Catalog, where you can find information about facilities renovated with funds from the reserve state budget in 2022. Last year, over UAH 700 million was allocated for repairs in the region.

In June 2023, the Prozorro system announced the first tenders for the reconstruction of infrastructure facilities in the Kyiv Oblast. These are apartments in Buch, Makarov, Vyshgorod and an administration building in Borodyanka.