Court allows construction of Osokorky Ecopark in Kyiv. Environmental activists say fight will continue

The non-governmental organisation ‘Ecopark Osokorki’, which campaigns for the creation of a nature reserve in the area around Lakes Nebrezh and Tyagle, notes that the court ruling relates to just one episode in a long-standing dispute and does not signify the end of the struggle. Soсportal provides further details on the development dispute.

The position of the Supreme Court and the developer

On 19 June 2026, the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Case No. 826/9175/18, dismissing the appeal in cassation lodged by the public organisation ‘Ecopark Osokorki’ and upholding the ruling of the court of appeal, which had refused to revoke the building permit No. ІУ113181171313 dated 27 April 2018 for the H2O residential complex.

Thus, the legality of the construction of the “H2O” residential complex and the validity of the relevant permits have been confirmed at the highest judicial level, according to the developer, Stolitsa Group.

They emphasise that the Supreme Court had previously also confirmed the legality of the land lease agreement, the Detailed Area Plan, the town planning conditions and restrictions, as well as other documents necessary for the project’s implementation.

Activists: This ruling does not mark the end of the legal battle

At the same time, the ‘Ecopark Osokorki’ NGO notes that the Supreme Court’s ruling does not signify the definitive conclusion of all legal disputes. According to activist Natalia Chernysheva, the case heard by the Supreme Court concerned only the planning permission for the first of five planned plots.

“The basis of this claim was that this area had been designated a protected landscape zone by a decision of the Kyiv City Council as far back as 1979. The court ruled that this area was not part of that protected zone. That is precisely why the building permit was not revoked,” she explains.

However, according to Chernysheva, the civil society organisation believes that other potential violations remain, in particular regarding construction within coastal protection zones.

“This is not the end of the story. The organisation will continue to seek ways to prove in court that this construction is illegal,” says the activist.

From a petition to a long-running conflict

The dispute over development in Osokorky has been going on for many years. According to Natalia Chernysheva, an active public movement formed in 2016 following the launch of a petition to protect the Dnipro floodplain, lakes, and meadows from development.

“The petition gathered around 12,000 signatures at the time. It was supported, but no concrete steps were taken to preserve this area,” she explains.

Initially, entities affiliated with Arkada Bank were due to build a residential complex on this site through Kontakt-Stroyservice LLC. Following the bank’s bankruptcy in 2021, Stolitsa Group joined the project, signing a memorandum to complete the ‘Patriotika’ and ‘Evrika’ residential complexes. It was under this memorandum that the company continued with the development project.

The ‘Ecopark Osokorky’ public organisation points to the position of the Kyiv authorities, which in 2019 advocated the creation of the ‘Osokorky Meadows’ nature reserve, located adjacent to the disputed area — to the south of Lake Tyagleye. However, following the arrival of a new developer, their attitude towards the project changed. Consequently, according to the activists, the relevant departments of the Kyiv City State Administration are not taking an active stance on the protection of nature conservation areas. The developer, on the other hand, is challenging the nature reserve status of the ‘Osokorkovskye Meadows’, which covers 148 hectares. Activists fear that, should the developer succeed, the development could spread to a much larger area.

“The developer has now taken legal action to have the nature reserve’s status revoked, as it plans to acquire this area as well. “That would mean more than 300 hectares of land – effectively a whole new district of Kyiv,” says Chernysheva.

Separate legal proceedings also concern the renewal of lease agreements for other plots of land included in the development project. And in 2026, the developer filed lawsuits seeking to ‘protect its business reputation’ following activists’ social media posts about the environmental damage caused by the construction. It lost that case.

What is the value of this natural area?

According to environmentalists, the area around Lakes Nebrezh and Tyagly in Osokorky is a unique floodplain of the Dnipro, featuring oxbow lakes, marshes, peat bogs, and wetlands.

“More than a third of this area consists of wetlands and peat bogs. “In Europe, such areas are now highly valued because they purify water, absorb carbon dioxide and help cities adapt to climate change,” notes Natalia Chernysheva.

Activists also point out that the area is a candidate for the Emerald Network – an international system for the protection of valuable natural areas.

“This area lies on a bird migration route. If it is built on, we will lose not only the natural landscape but also the habitats of many animal species,” notes Chernysheva.

More than 150 species of birds have been recorded here, including the mute swan, the little bittern, the marsh harrier, the grey heron, and the rare white-tailed eagle. The water bodies are home to the European pond turtle, which is listed as a species in need of protection. The area is also home to beavers, otters, muskrats, foxes, hares, weasels, and several species of bat. Hundreds of plant species characteristic of floodplain ecosystems have been preserved within the eco-park. Red-Listed Siberian cock’s-comb and finger-rooted rush grow here, whilst the water bodies are covered with white and yellow water lilies. The riparian zones are formed by willows, poplars, and alders.

According to Chernysheva, development could destroy all of this. Moreover, it will affect not only the local ecosystem but also the hydrological regime of the Dnipro as a whole.

“To level this area to city level, a five- to seven-metre-high embankment of sand would need to be built. This would mean a complete alteration of the natural terrain, with consequences for groundwater and water bodies,” she says.

How activists envisage the future of ‘Osokorky Ecopark’

Despite ongoing construction on the first phase, the activists have not given up on the idea of creating a large recreational area.

In their view, although construction is already partly underway, the remaining natural areas can still be preserved.

“We would like to halt further construction. A rehabilitation centre for military personnel could be established there, along with kayaking centres and leisure areas, whilst preserving the forests, lakes and wetlands. “All this can still be saved — the only question is whether there will be the political will to do so,” concludes Natalia Chernysheva.

Thus, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of the developer, campaigners note that the conflict surrounding the Osokorky development is far from over: other legal proceedings are ongoing, and the debate over the future of one of Kyiv’s largest natural areas remains open.