The Kyiv City State Administration has approved the construction of a fountain costing 52 million hryvnias on the site of the Lenin monument
In downtown Kyiv, on the site of the former Lenin monument across from the Bessarabsky Market, there are plans to build a fountain costing nearly 52 million hryvnias, while rejecting alternative proposals from the public.
This was reported by Prozorro.
The total cost of the planned work will be 51.9 million hryvnias—over one million euros at the current exchange rate.
According to Vitaliy Selik, head of the public organization “Kyiv Urban Planning Council,” the open bidding took place under specific conditions.
Only one company participated in the tender—"Rostdorstroy"—which effectively won the competition against itself due to the absence of other competitors in the market.
Funding for this costly project is to be provided entirely by the pharmaceutical company Farmak, which had previously officially proposed to city authorities that this structure be installed in time for its upcoming 100th anniversary.
According to the published project, a fountain in a pseudo-classical style is planned for Taras Shevchenko Boulevard. In addition to the construction of the water feature itself, a large-scale renovation of the existing landscaping in the surrounding area is planned.
Specifically, plans include the installation of modern, ground-level accessible crossings from Khreshchatyk to Velyka Vasylkivska Street, the creation of a convenient ramp to replace the old stairs, and a major renovation of 22 benches.
Vitalii Selik highlighted accessibility as a positive aspect of the reconstruction but sharply criticized the lack of transparency in the city government’s decision-making process.
The urban planner pointed out that such an important project on one of the capital’s main squares proceeded without the required public discussions and without an open architectural competition.
“We will get a pseudo-historical fountain instead of a monument to Skoropadsky, Ukrainian patrons, or an important event,” wrote the head of the civic organization.
During a meeting of the Kyiv Accessibility Council, Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that a “classic Kyiv fountain” is the “most neutral solution” for this historic space.
At the same time, his deputy, Valentin Mondriyevsky, reported that the final version of the site’s renovation is still being finalized.
Previously, the Kyiv City State Administration had promised to transform this iconic intersection into a modern public space; however, the chosen concept of “neutral” urban design has already sparked a wave of outrage among opinion leaders and activists.
Kyiv residents’ main complaint is the complete lack of ideological and historical content at one of the capital’s most important locations.
With its concept of neutrality, the Kyiv City State Administration has effectively rejected other proposals from the public aimed at honoring the memory of Ukraine’s modern heroes.
In particular, an official petition No. 11812 previously appeared on the Kyiv City Council website, proposing to erect a monument at this site to Tymofiy Shadura—a Ukrainian soldier who was brutally shot by Russian occupiers after shouting “Glory to Ukraine.”
The author of the petition, Oleksiy Yakovenko, proposed commemorating the soldier’s feat directly across from Bessarabka by creating a true memorial to the modern war of liberation there.
He called for: “Erect a monument to the Hero with a capital H, Tymofiy Mykolayovych Shadura, a soldier who, in his final moments, was not afraid to say ‘Glory to Ukraine’ to the enemy’s face, for which he was brutally shot by the Russians. Erect it with the inscription: ‘And the time will come when one will say: “Glory to Ukraine!” And millions will respond: “Glory to the Heroes!” S. Bandera.’”
However, the city authorities opted to build a fountain funded by the pharmaceutical industry.
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