Residents of Teremky held a rally over the backup heating pipeline
Residents of the Teremky neighborhood in Kyiv held a rally demanding that construction of the backup heating pipeline be completed before the cold weather sets in. People say that last winter, due to problems with Thermal Power Plant No. 5, the temperature in some apartments dropped to +4°, and in some cases, water froze in the pipes. According to residents, the new network should provide the neighborhood with a backup heating option in case the thermal power plant is damaged.
Residents of the Teremky housing complex in Kyiv are demanding that construction of the backup heating pipeline be completed as soon as possible. They fear that without it, the neighborhood could once again be left without heat in the event of an accident or damage to Thermal Power Plant No. 5. They held a rally to voice this demand. Residents are calling for the work to be completed before the cold weather sets in, as some buildings in Teremky already faced serious heating problems last winter.
According to local residents, the temperature in some apartments dropped to +4°, and in some places—even to zero. Due to the cold, water in the pipes froze, and people had to use portable toilets on the street. Teremky residents have reported similar incidents in the past. One resident explained that last winter was particularly difficult for the elderly and people with disabilities. “My mother is a war veteran who has suffered a stroke, has diabetes, and has had fractures. And so, on the 16th floor, we spent the winter with temperatures at +4°. That’s very cold. Everything froze,” the woman said.
According to her, her mother couldn’t go outside on her own. She also emphasized that many people with disabilities live in the building, including those who use wheelchairs. “And some people are against cutting down trees. But what would they say if they saw how people here had to—excuse me—use portable toilets outside in such freezing weather? We had no electricity, nothing—no heat, no way to stay warm, nothing,” said the resident.
“A human life is more valuable than a tree”
Vladimir Stepanovich, a 92-year-old resident of Teremky, also attended the rally. He explained that last winter he was left without heat in his apartment. The man addressed those who oppose the construction of a heating network through the greenbelt. According to him, some residents who didn’t have such heating problems don’t fully understand the situation of people in buildings that were left without heat. “They had heat all winter, so they’re against laying the heating network through the forest strip. There are 32,000 residents in our neighborhood, 26,000 of whom suffered from a lack of heating,” said the retiree.
He emphasized that, in his opinion, the issue of heat is currently more important to people than preserving the trees in the area where the network is to be laid. “I believe that a human life is more valuable than a tree. A tree can be replanted, but you can never bring a dead child or grandmother back to life. That’s why I came here today to say to those who oppose this: ‘Good people, come to your senses!’” said Volodymyr Stepanovych. The figures cited by residents regarding the number of people who were left without heat last winter are their own estimates.
Why is the heating pipeline being built?
The new heating network is intended to create a backup heat supply system for the Teremky-1 and Teremky-2 residential areas. It is planned to be used in the event of an emergency or a shutdown of CHPP-5. This was reported by the Kyiv City State Administration and “Kyivteploenergo.” According to city officials, in the event of serious damage to CHPP-5, more than 280 buildings in the Holosiivskyi district could be left without heat. That is why the project is viewed as part of efforts to enhance Kyiv’s energy resilience.
Construction of the heating pipeline began this summer. To lay the network, some of the greenery on the site had to be removed. This led to a conflict surrounding the project between its supporters and activists advocating for the preservation of trees.
What People in Kyiv Are Saying About the Trees
The Kyiv City State Administration stated that after revising the heating pipeline route, they were able to preserve nearly all the greenery on the site. According to city officials, they plan to preserve the majority of the 160 trees and other greenery. City officials also emphasize that they plan to restore the area once the work is completed. Relevant city departments will work on this together with community representatives and experts.
On September 21, a fence was being erected at the construction site. Both supporters of the heating pipeline project and opponents of the work were present there at the same time. Law enforcement officers were also guarding the area. On the same day, Kyivteploenergo stated that no new trees were being cut down at the site, and that construction and installation work on the backup network was continuing. (
Why Residents Are in a Hurry
For Teremky residents, the issue of time is now one of the most pressing. People fear a repeat of last winter’s situation, when heating disruptions caused problems not only with apartment heating but also with water and other living conditions. That is precisely why residents want the backup network to be operational before the cold weather sets in. They emphasize that this is not about comfort, but about being able to get through the winter in the event of further damage to the main heat source.
At the same time, questions remain regarding the preservation of green spaces around the construction site. City officials state that the project has been adjusted to preserve as many trees as possible, and the area is to be restored once the work is completed. Construction of the backup heating pipeline in Teremky is currently underway. Residents of the neighborhood are urging that the work not be halted and that it be completed before the cold weather sets in.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has contacted the police regarding the events of September 22 in Teremky. He is requesting a legal assessment of the actions of those involved in the conflict, particularly employees of “Municipal Security.”
Klitschko added that the Department of Municipal Security of the Kyiv City State Administration should also conduct an internal investigation into the “Municipal Security” organization.
The Kyiv City State Administration confirmed that in Teremky, Municipal Security personnel were pulling people away from construction equipment.
As a reminder, in the Teremky neighborhood, police are clearing a path for a heating pipeline, which involves the removal of 100-year-old oak trees.
Also in the Teremky neighborhood, Kyiv’s Municipal Security force forcibly dragged protesters away.
Against this backdrop, Kyivteploenergo denies that trees are being cut down in the Teremky neighborhood.
