Historical landscapes of Kyiv under the threat

Experts of UNESCO are recommending Kyiv to impose a moratorium on construction of multistory buildings which level down panorama of historic monastery landscape on the banks of the Dnieper River and organize an efficient preservation of not only buildings of Kyivo-Pecherska Lavra, but natural landscape also.

According to the press service of the Ministry for regional development and construction, particularly, the problems with proper preservation of the object of world heritage “St. Sophia Cathedral, Kyivo-Pechersk Lavra and adjoining monastery constructions” and geological problems in the territory of Lava were mentioned, Liga reports.

Experts are very anxious about construction on the slopes of the Dnieper River. The landslides might appear on the slopes. According to the experts, it does not only harm a valuable historical landscape, but also puts a threat to the further existence of Kyivo-Pecherska Lavra. In connection with this the UNESCO mission recommended Ukraine to consider a possibility of organizing efficient preservation of not only the buildings of the monument, but the cultural landscape too, including natural components of the Dnieper slopes and banks of the Dnieper River.

Summing up, the new buildings influence on the authenticity of the object negatively. The preservation of authenticity is one of the main requirements to the monuments pretending to be included into the UNESCO World Heritage List and staying of the Object in the List. Besides, the UNESCO mission recommends enlarging buffer zone of St. Sophia Cathedral to Khreshchatyk Street, the territory of Bessarabska ploshchad and Bessarabsky market.