The destroyed building in Voznesensk: why is the dismantling delayed?

View of a high-rise building in Voznesensk 2 years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

On August 20, 2022, during the massive shelling of Voznesensk, one of the Russian missiles hit a five-story building at 39 Kotliarevskyi Street, the walls of which literally «disintegrated». As a result of the attack, 14 people were injured, including three children. Although two years have passed, the house still stands in a dilapidated state, without any signs of demolition or restoration.

NikVesti found out the reasons and problems delaying the dismantling of the five-story building.

A view of a house in Voznesensk immediately after the Russian Kalibr was hit on August 20, 2022. Archive photo NikVesti

A view of a house in Voznesensk immediately after the Russian Kalibr was hit on August 20, 2022. Archive photo NikVesti

The building is not subject to restoration: technical conclusion

Immediately after the impact, the residents had hope for the restoration of the building. An expert commission conducted a technical examination, which showed that the house was unfit for habitation: 60% of the structures were seriously damaged, the roof, walls, balconies, windows and doors were the most affected.

Inna, a resident of the house, says that she, like other residents, hoped that after the technical examination they would be able to return to their homes:

«We all hoped that after the technical examination we would be able to return home. We thought that, despite the damage, there was still a chance to restore the building. After the shelling, we expected that they would find a way to repair our apartments, because we could not imagine life without our home. When we learned that the technical conclusion confirmed our worst fears and recovery was impossible, it was a real shock. Now we have to look for a new home, and it is very difficult».

The state of the apartment after arriving in Voznesensk. Photo: NikVesti

The state of the apartment after arriving in Voznesensk. Photo: NikVesti

The technical report showed significant damage to the load-bearing structures. The roof was destroyed by 70%, the walls sagged, cracks appeared. The foundation remained intact, but there is displacement of blocks in the blast zone. It is dangerous to use the stairs, the balconies of the first entrance are destroyed, and the slabs are bent.

The building is so dangerous to use that it has to be demolished.

According to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine №474 of April 19, 2022, local authorities can dismantle destroyed objects after an examination and a decision based on the act. Money for this is provided by local or state programs, and this can make it difficult to begin dismantling.

Director of Zhytlo-Service Olena Balabaieva, who serviced the building, says that due to the impossibility of restoring the building, some residents decided to privatize the land under the building in order to prevent new construction in this area.

The state of the apartment after arriving in Voznesensk. Photo: NikVesti

The state of the apartment after arriving in Voznesensk. Photo: NikVesti

«After the shelling, we got acquainted with the expert report and conducted a review with the commission. It turned out that the pit was damaged, so the house will not be restored. Even specialists from Kyiv who were rebuilding damaged houses in Irpen came to us, but they also confirmed that due to the damaged foundation, none of the builders will undertake the restoration,» said Olena Balabaieva, director of the Housing Service company.

This is how the house damaged 2 years ago looks today. Photo: NikVesti

This is what the area near the destroyed high-rise building looks like. Photo: NikVesti

Consent for dismantling

Despite the obvious need for dismantling, this process has not yet begun. One of the main reasons is the issue of compensation to residents. The mayor of Voznesensk, Yevhen Velychko, says that four families from this building have not yet received compensation for their destroyed apartments. No dismantling without their consent.

«We cannot submit the house for dismantling until we resolve the issue with the other residents. Or there should be a general meeting in which they should show that they do not object to the demolition of the house,» he said.

Another problem is the financing of dismantling works. The city authorities previously tried to attract international organizations that promised to carry out the dismantling, but the donors never got in touch. Now the authorities are looking for new opportunities to dismantle the building.

The city authorities estimate the cost of dismantling at least one and a half million hryvnias. For a city with a limited budget, this is too much. In addition to dismantling, construction waste must also be processed, which further increases costs.

Construction debris near a destroyed high-rise building in Voznesensk. Photo NikVesti

Before the Russian strike, a shop was operating on the first floor of the high-rise building. Photo NikVesti

With compensations, but without housing

According to Inna, a resident of the destroyed high-rise building, the amounts of compensation offered to the residents of the destroyed building do not always cover the costs of new housing.

According to Yehor Nurulin, head of the Department of Housing and Communal Affairs and Capital Construction of the Voznesensk City Council, 21 families out of 27 have already received compensation certificates, totaling more than 22 million hryvnias.

The largest amount of compensation was 1 million 428 thousand hryvnias, and the smallest was 537 thousand 850 hryvnias.

However, only five families have already used the certificates, because the rest either cannot resolve the issues with the documents, or do not consider the compensation sufficient to purchase a new home.

Mrs. Inna, one of the residents of the destroyed building, says that the city authorities are offering her 1 million 90 thousand hryvnias for the purchase of a new apartment. However, due to rising real estate prices, this amount is not enough to buy a two-room apartment in Voznesensk, she says.

«To buy a two-room apartment, you need about 33 thousand dollars. And they offer me only 24 thousand. Housing prices are very high, and even if compensation is received, it does not cover the cost of a new apartment with furniture. In fact, I remain a refugee in my city,» says Inna.

She emphasizes that she does not want to leave Voznesensk, where she has relatives and friends.

«I don't want to move to another city, for example, Odesa, even if you can buy a new apartment there,» she adds.

Now Inna is thinking about getting a compensation certificate, although she understands that this amount will not cover all expenses.

The condition of the house two years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

Construction debris near a destroyed high-rise building in Voznesensk. Photo: NikVesti

Yevhen Velychko confirms that the housing market in Voznesensk is really under pressure due to the influx of immigrants. According to him, officially registered IDPs make up about 12% of the city's population, which significantly affects the demand for housing and increases its cost.

«We have not had a new construction for more than ten years. The last high-rise building was built about nine years ago, and today the city does not even have construction equipment for such projects,» says Velichko.

In addition to the problem with new construction, there is another one — about 7% of housing in the city is vacant. The city authorities have launched the process of recognizing abandoned apartments as «dead heritage» in order to later hand them over to new owners through the court. This may help partially solve the housing crisis in the city, but the process takes time.

The condition of the house two years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

Funding and new plans: what happens after dismantling?

As for the future of the destroyed building at 39 Kotliarevskyi Street, the situation remains uncertain. Even after the demolition of the house, the question of further use of the site remains open.

According to the general plan of the city, this area is intended for residential development. However, in order to start building new housing, it is necessary to develop a detailed plan of the territory, which will cost about 200 thousand hryvnias — an amount that the city cannot afford at the moment. Therefore, the most likely option is the construction of a new house. There are no ideas for alternative use of this territory yet.

The city authorities continue to search for possible solutions. However, the residents of the destroyed building are forced to remain without their homes, and the dismantling process may be delayed indefinitely due to a lack of funding and unresolved issues of compensation.

The condition of the house two years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

The condition of the house two years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

The condition of the house two years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

The condition of the house two years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

The condition of the house two years after the impact. Photo: NikVesti

Alina Kvitko, NikVesti