Following the collapse, the Ministry of Culture allocated funds for the restoration of the Khotyn Fortress
The Ministry of Culture has allocated 3 million hryvnias for urgent emergency repairs and design work at the “Khotyn Fortress” State Historical and Architectural Reserve.
“To address the emergency situation, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has allocated 3 million hryvnias for the development of two sets of scientific and design documentation—for the restoration of a section of the castle’s defensive walls and the installation of a drainage system on the fortress grounds,” the ministry said in a statement.
It is emphasized that proper drainage is one of the top priorities for preserving the walls. Moisture penetrating the masonry, as well as its subsequent freezing and thawing, leads to the destruction of the stone and the binding material. Therefore, it is first necessary to eliminate the factors contributing to further deterioration of the structures, and only then proceed with the actual restoration work.
Once the drainage system is installed, the damaged section of the walls will be directly restored. This involves the castle’s western defensive wall—a monument of national significance. In April, a significant collapse occurred in this section. The lower support for the upper architectural elements was lost, and part of the stone mass, under the influence of its own weight and internal pressure, became detached and collapsed. As a result of further deterioration, four merlons—the battlements of the defensive wall—were completely lost.
Experts have identified a complex set of factors that contributed to the condition of the western wall of the Khotyn Fortress. These include historical damage, structural features of the masonry, changes in hydrological conditions, and prolonged moisture exposure to the wall. In particular, in 1769, the outer facing layer of the wall collapsed after being struck by a cannonball. Its structure features “well-type” masonry without vertical connecting elements, which affects its stability. An additional factor is the change in the groundwater level due to the Dniester River’s retreat and fluctuations in its water level.
“Moisture in the wall has been documented since the late 19th–early 20th centuries. After the fortress lost its military status in 1856, its drainage system fell into disrepair. The most severe damage occurred in the area where the artillery arsenal was previously located and where saltpeter for gunpowder production was stored. The masonry, saturated with these residues, proved to be particularly vulnerable to moisture. It was precisely in the area of prolonged waterlogging that the wall and battlements were destroyed,” notes the Ministry of Culture.
To stabilize the wall, the reserve commissioned two sets of scientific and design documentation from the “UkrNDIproektrestavratsiya” Research and Design Institute. The first set involves the repair and reinforcement of the defensive walls, the restoration of the masonry and battlements, and the installation of waterproofing; the second set involves the creation of a drainage system on the fortress grounds. The development of the documentation costs approximately 1.5 million UAH per set.
The condition of the damaged section has already been assessed using ground-penetrating radar and 3D laser scanning, which allow for the detection of hidden voids, cracks, and deformations. The development of the project documentation is scheduled to be completed by December 25, 2026. Following the surveys, technical solutions will be determined for the stabilization and subsequent restoration of the damaged section of the walls.
This was reported by the agency’s press service.
Four battlements of the stone wall fell from the upper part of the Khotyn Fortress, having been left unsupported after the first wall collapse on April 17. Elizaveta Buynovska, director of the reserve, stated that due to this incident, specialists will have to urgently make changes to the design and cost estimate documentation.
In 2023, a large-scale renovation costing 12 million hryvnias was carried out at the Khotyn Fortress. The State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning (DIAM) issued a certificate of acceptance into service for the completed construction project at the Khotyn Fortress.
