The Minister for the Economy reported to Kopytin that the Mykolaiv authorities had gone out of their way to facilitate the construction of a petrol station in a green area surrounded by oak trees

Oak trees on the site where a petrol station is planned to be built. Photo: NikVesti

The Ukrainian Ministry of Economy has stated that the Mykolaiv authorities effectively facilitated the implementation of a project to build a petrol station in a green area on Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue.

This is stated in the ministry’s response to people's deputy Ihor Kopytin, which he published on his Telegram channel.

The document explains that back in February 2024, Mykolaiv City Council approved a development plan for this area. It provided for the construction of a petrol station complex with shops and a car wash. And by September 2024, the city council had leased the land to the company «Svit Zdoroviia».

«At the same time, we would like to point out that:

1. In September 2024, the Mykolaiv City Council leased a plot of land to «Svit Zdoroviiia» LLC for the construction and operation of road service facilities on Bogoyavlensky Avenue at the corner of Kober Street, having concluded contract No. 11783 dated 06.09.2024;

2. By Decision No. 29/50 of the Mykolaiv City Council dated 29 February 2024, a detailed plan was approved for the territory of the city of Mykolaiv bounded by Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue, Vynohradna Street, Starofortetska Street and the territory of industrial enterprises,» the Ministry’s response states.

The Ministry of Economy also noted that an environmental assessment and public consultations were conducted prior to the decision being made. According to the Ministry, no comments regarding the construction of the petrol station were received at that time.

«The detailed plan in question provides for the location, within the area covered by the detailed plan (within the boundaries of existing land allocations), of enterprises: specifically, a petrol station complex with retail facilities and a car wash. A strategic environmental assessment of this detailed plan was also carried out, during which public discussions and public hearings were held; no comments were raised at the early stage of the decision-making process regarding the siting of the said facility,» the document states.

Response from the Ministry of Economy regarding the construction of a petrol station in the green belt near the Zoria-Mashproekt plant. Photo: Ihor Kopytin

Response from the Ministry of Economy regarding the construction of a petrol station in the green zone near the Zoria-Mashproekt plant. Photo: Ihor Kopytin

Response from the Ministry of Economy regarding the construction of a petrol station in the green zone near the Zoria-Mashproekt plant. Photo: Ihor Kopytin

They also pointed out that it is the local authorities who are responsible for issuing permits for the removal of trees and for monitoring green spaces in the city.

«Furthermore, in accordance with Article 30 of the Law of Ukraine «On Local Self-Government», the executive bodies of village, settlement and city councils have, among other things, issuing permits (orders) for the removal of green spaces, as well as monitoring the state of urban development in settlements, organising greening, protecting green spaces and water bodies, and creating recreational areas for citizens. Thus, the Conclusion issued by the Ministry complies with the requirements of the law,» the document states.

Ukrainian people's deputy Ihor Kopytin, in turn, stated that the city council «bears full responsibility» for the fate of the oak trees that are to be felled for the construction of a petrol station at the junction of Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue and Kober Street in Mykolaiv.

Construction of a petrol station in the Inhulskyi district

In November 2025, readers of NikVesti drew attention to markings on the oak trees and expressed concern that the area might be cleared for the construction of a petrol station. Following this, environmentalists inspected the oak trees along Kober Street in Mykolaiv, near the Zoria factory. According to the inspectors’ findings, all the trees are in satisfactory condition, the markings were applied haphazardly, and there are no grounds for felling them.

Read the article by NikVesti «How, instead of going to court, did the city council hand over land for the construction of a petrol station in Mykolaiv?».

On 1 April 2026, it emerged that the company «Svit Zdoroviia» had, on its third attempt, passed the public hearing and received permission to build a petrol station complex with car service shops in the green area near the ‘Zorya’ factory in Mykolaiv, at the junction of Kober Street and Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue.

Following this, local residents held a meeting near the green space. On the same day, the State Environmental Inspectorate carried out an inspection of this green space.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, on the basis of which the company «Svit Zdoroviia» received approval for the construction of the petrol station, was signed by Vitalii Kindrativ, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture — in 2016–2017, he served as Deputy Head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration.

Prior to this, the Mykolaiv Department of Housing and Communal Services had identified inaccuracies in the environmental impact assessment report regarding the construction of a petrol station in the park near «Zoria». They suggested that the company either abandon the construction or relocate the facility to another site.

Several public hearings have been held in Mykolaiv regarding the construction of a petrol station in the park near «Zoria». One of them was organised by the Ministry of Economy, whilst the previous ones took place online on 2 July 2025. During these hearings, local residents assured that they were ready to defend the green space.