A conflict has arisen in Kyiv over the installation of a heating network in Teremky Park, which is supposed to pass through a green area. At least, this is what activists claim in their social media posts, reports UNN.
Activists and local residents opposed the work and stated that the heating network was allegedly planned to run through the park area, although the design documentation provided for a different route.
Details
Photographs published on social media show police officers escorting several people away from the work site. The authors of the posts claim that law enforcement officers forcibly pushed back activists who were trying to prevent the cutting down of greenery.
The activists also called on residents to join the protest near the park area on Teremkivska Street. People are demanding that the removal of trees be halted and that the design and permit documentation for the installation of the heating network be made public.
The protesters are also insisting on an open discussion of the heating network route and the possibility of laying it without destroying part of the park’s vegetation.
Conflict of interests in Teremky: what law enforcement officials say
The Kyiv police explained that preparatory work for the construction of the heating network is being carried out in accordance with a decision by the city authorities. The project is being implemented as part of the capital’s Energy Resilience Plan.
According to law enforcement officials, municipal enterprises responsible for preparing the site, carrying out construction and installation work, and removing part of the greenery have been involved in the work.
The police emphasized that the enterprises have the necessary permits. These include, in particular, compensatory landscaping of the area after construction is completed, as well as the restoration of damaged elements of public amenities.
Meanwhile, the police did not disclose the exact number of green plants planned for removal and planting.
Law enforcement officials also denied that they are directly involved in construction work or the removal of trees. The police stated that their presence is solely related to the need to prevent clashes.
Police officers are present at the site exclusively to ensure public safety, maintain public order, and prevent any provocations and conflict situations
"Battle for the trees" in Teremky: the position of the capital’s authorities
The Kyiv City State Administration says that cutting down some trees in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district is necessary for the construction of a new heating network that will provide backup heating to the Teremky-1 and Teremky-2 residential areas if critical infrastructure facilities are damaged. After the work is completed, the area is planned to be reclaimed and replanted.
As the city authorities explained, the construction of the heating network — is part of a project to enhance Kyiv’s energy resilience amid the constant threat of Russian attacks on energy facilities.
In the event of shelling and damage to the equipment at CHP-5, more than 280 buildings in Holosiivskyi district could be left without heating. The new network is intended to create a backup configuration that would allow consumers to be promptly switched to an alternative heat source.
According to the Kyiv City State Administration, this will make it possible to prevent heating from being cut off for tens of thousands of Teremky residents in the event of an emergency during the winter period.
They emphasized that they understand the concern of local residents over the removal of greenery. At the same time, according to city representatives, during wartime it is necessary to strike a balance between environmental preservation and people’s safety.
The Kyiv City State Administration added that, before the design process began, specialists considered alternative routes for laying the heating network. However, the other options would have required several times higher costs or significantly longer completion times.
The Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation, for its part, has already begun preparing a comprehensive decision on restoring the area. Residents of the district, public representatives, and experts are planned to be involved in its discussion.
Among the possible options for landscaping the site are planting new trees, including large-caliper trees, creating recreational areas, ecological trails, and perennial flower beds, as well as installing modern landscaping elements.
The possibility of using large-caliper trees from municipal nurseries is being considered separately. This should make it possible to restore the established appearance of the green area more quickly after the construction work is completed.
What Kyivteploenergo says
Kyivteploenergo stated that the enterprise has the necessary permits and is carrying out the work in accordance with the law. The construction is being carried out pursuant to the decision of the Kyiv City Council dated March 10, 2026, No. 358/10825, concerning the energy resilience of the capital's territorial community.
After the heat network is laid, the site is to be reclaimed, its landscaping restored, and new trees, bushes, and other greenery planted in places where construction regulations allow.
Previously
Somewhat earlier, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets outlined the procedure for removing trees and the fines for unauthorized felling of vegetation.