Kyiv

1. Historical Significance of the Motherland Monument: The Motherland Monument, located in Kyiv, is not only an impressive statue but also a symbol of Soviet victory in World War II. Standing at 62 meters tall, it is one of the tallest statues in Europe and houses a museum dedicated to the history of the Great Patriotic War. 2. Underground River: Beneath Kyiv lies the Lybid River, which has been buried under the city's infrastructure for decades. This underground river runs through the city and is a fascinating aspect of Kyiv's geography that few residents or visitors may be aware of. 3. The Kyiv Metro System: The Kyiv Metro is known for its impressive depth, with some stations being among the deepest in the world. Arsenalna Station, for example, is 105.5 meters deep, primarily built to serve as a shelter during a potential nuclear attack. Its ornate architecture and design make it a unique experience for commuters and a hidden gem for those exploring the city.

In Kyiv, approximately 79% of people currently live in privately owned housing, while around 14% live in privately rented housing. An additional 2% reside in state, municipal, or employer-provided housing with rent, and another 2% without rent. State- or municipally-owned (public) housing has a very limited presence in the city’s overall housing stock. As of mid-2025, the median price to buy a new apartment in Kyiv is about 1,280 euros per square meter. Rental prices for residential apartments are typically in the range of 14–18 euros per square meter, with demand pushing rents to or above prewar levels, especially in central areas. Publicly owned housing in Kyiv, which includes social housing, constitutes only around 1.5% of the market. Social housing in Ukraine is a specific subset of public housing, targeted at low-income or otherwise vulnerable groups and provided for official, below-market rents. Public housing, meanwhile, can technically have a broader remit, but in practice, given the tiny stock, social and public housing are nearly synonymous in Kyiv. Despite ongoing reforms, the public/social housing system remains underdeveloped and is not a significant alternative to private home ownership or market-based renting. Most of the housing market is driven by private ownership and rental, with public options almost negligible in scale. The government is developing new policies to increase the share and impact of social housing, but implementation remains limited to date. All euro values are based on recent exchange rates.

Kyiv is experiencing a significant housing crisis marked by rising property prices, high demand, and insufficient affordable options. Since early 2025, average prices for apartments in the city have increased by up to 10%, particularly for larger units. As of mid-2025, average prices for newly built apartments in Kyiv are around 1,200 to 1,300 euros per square meter, while rents remain high, especially for secure or centrally located housing. Housing construction in Kyiv itself lags behind demand, with the number of new dwellings started in the city declining for the second year in a row, while the Kyiv region (outside the city) builds more actively. About 70% of Ukrainians reportedly cannot afford to purchase a home without outside support. The ongoing war has intensified the crisis: many internally displaced persons—estimated at over 1.5 million nationwide—face acute difficulties in securing stable housing, amplifying pressure on the local market. Demand for rental housing is particularly acute; in Kyiv, there is high competition for available rentals, especially in areas considered safer or equipped with modern security features. The most affected by the crisis are low- and middle-income households, young families, and internally displaced persons. These groups struggle the most with the lack of affordable, quality options. In summary, Kyiv’s housing crisis is defined by high costs, insufficient affordable supply, and substantial unmet demand, with vulnerable populations bearing the brunt of the hardship.

Kyiv’s city administration is addressing affordable and sustainable housing through a combination of national and local initiatives, responding to a severe housing crisis and an urgent need among internally displaced persons (IDPs), veterans, and low-income groups. While the public and social housing sector remains very small, several new strategies and pilot programs signal a policy shift. Recent targets have been set at both the municipal and national levels. In mid-2025, authorities launched work on a new State Housing Policy Strategy to create a more accessible, transparent, and financially viable system, aiming to expand the rental market, improve mortgage conditions, strengthen local authority capacities, and attract international financing. A pilot program for municipal rental housing will begin construction in 10 Ukrainian cities, with Kyiv among the candidates. These homes will feature basic furnishings and are to be offered at affordable rents, prioritizing those with acute housing needs such as IDPs, veterans, service providers, and families affected by war. Key programs include “eOselya”, the largest affordable mortgage scheme, offering low-interest loans (3–7%) for qualifying categories, thus increasing access to home ownership. Internationally backed projects, such as those led by the International Organization for Migration and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, add affordable and modular housing for vulnerable groups, usually transferred to municipal operation. Broad legislative reforms are underway, including the creation of a social housing fund, compensation mechanisms for destroyed property, and steps toward a unified national housing system, all aiming to make housing more equitable and sustainable in Kyiv.

Housing cooperatives (Житлово-будівельні кооперативи, ЖБК) in Kyiv form a small, historically significant part of the city’s housing sector. There are 864 active housing cooperatives in Kyiv, most established decades ago, which collectively manage their buildings and maintain a strong tradition of resident self-organization. These cooperatives play a vital role in sustaining older residential stock and exemplify efficient, community-based management, but their share in the overall housing market is minor—precise numbers are not published, but cooperative housing clearly constitutes only a small fraction compared to private ownership and rental. New cooperative housing development has sharply declined, with recent years seeing almost no new cooperative projects. Despite the model’s advantages, legal constraints and a lack of state incentives have hindered sector growth. The idea of cooperative housing, once central to urban policy, is losing ground, with some risk of existing cooperatives being dissolved or stripped of management rights. Kyiv’s city administration supports cooperative and similar forms of collective ownership through targeted municipal programs, including financial assistance for repairs and energy modernization. These programs, although mostly aimed at homeowners’ associations, periodically include long-standing cooperatives as beneficiaries. However, there are no major local or national initiatives specifically focused on expanding or revitalizing cooperative housing in Kyiv.