Court Orders Demolition of Hotel and Restaurant Complex on the Bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv
7 May 2025 05:25
The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal has ordered the demolition of a hotel and restaurant complex on the banks of the Dnipro River in Kyiv and the return of the land plot on which it is located to the local community. This was reported by the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The hotel and restaurant complex is located in the coastal protection zone of the Dnipro River at 35 Naberezhno-Korchuvatska Street in Kyiv. Galera Resort is located at this address.
As indicated on the complex’s website, it has 25 rooms, six of which are of categories to suit every taste, with breakfast and SPA included in the price. Also, the hotel can accommodate small dogs, provided they have diapers and pay 1000 UAH/day. The room rate starts at 2250 UAH per night.
Details of the case
The 0.5-hectare land plot worth UAH 3.2 million belongs to the water fund lands that are under special state protection. Legislation prohibits construction on such areas to ensure free access to water bodies and preserve the ecosystem.
The investigation established that an individual illegally registered ownership of an unauthorized complex based on a district court decision that was later canceled.
This facility was subsequently transferred to the authorized capital of a commercial company.
In 2018, the company received the land plot for rent, bypassing the land auction procedure, which is a violation of competitive conditions.
Violation of the law
The prosecutor’s office found that the company:
- Continued illegal development of the leased land plot in violation of the lease agreement.
- Restricted free access of citizens to the bank of the Dnipro River.
- Used the water fund land for commercial purposes, which contradicts its special legal regime.
Despite these violations, the Kyiv City Council extended the lease agreement for 15 years in 2024. This became the basis for the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office to file a lawsuit to demolish the complex and return the land to the community.
Court decision
The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal upheld the prosecutor’s appeal, overturning the decision of the first instance court.
The court ordered:
- Demolish the unauthorized hotel and restaurant complex.
- Return the 0.5-hectare land plot to the Kyiv local community.
The court’s decision emphasizes the importance of compliance with land and water legislation, as well as the protection of citizens’ rights to access to natural resources.
