Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

• Urban development pressure
• High-rise buildings that could compromise the panorama of the historical monastic Dnieper river landscape (built)
• Lack of legal protection and planning mechanisms
• Lack of management system and mechanisms of coordination between all stakeholders including the City Municipality

On 31 January 2015, the State Party submitted a detailed state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/527/documents/, providing a summary of conservation and restoration works, and reports on progress made with the implementation of the Committee’s decisions.

The State Party reported on draft documents, including the Management Plan of the property, regulations and measures submitted for review and adoption by the relevant national authorities to prevent any inappropriate development and potential threats to the property's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). In the Historical and Architectural Structure Plan, which is still under consideration, long-term measures are planned to ensure the protection of the property and its buffer zone, by setting stringent requirements for protection and for high-rise buildings. The zoning plan proposal includes a detailed zoning scheme for the buffer zone, including the protective no-construction zone of Sophia and Lavra into one buffer zone.

In 2014, a Memorandum of cooperation for the preservation of cultural heritage and future city development was signed between different departments of the city administration and the National Union of Architects. A temporary Control Committee of Kyiv City Council was established, the main task of which is verifying the legitimacy of decisions concerning land allocation in the central part of the city. A Working Group was also created composed by the representatives of relevant ministries, the City Council and the civil society.

The State Party reiterated its previous statement that a lighting effect will be used to mitigate the impact of the high-raise building on Klovsky descent 7-A on the historical environment. 

The State Party provided information on a number of issues regarding conservation activities at the property, as well as on the reconstructive work of lost buildings, such as a brethren's building, as well as on engineering protection of the territory and landslide events as part of planned activities of the Plan of the Organization of the Territory of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve approved by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.  

The authorities have taken measures to respond to the recommendation of the Committee, in particular concerning regular monitoring, conservation and repair works. Progress should be noted within the management system, in particular the establishment of coordination between main stakeholders, as well as creation of a temporary Control Committee of Kyiv City Council. 

It is however significant and regrettable that the State Party has not taken any steps to respond to the previous decisions of the Committee concerning the reduction of height of the building on Klovsky descent 7-A, classified as disharmonious in the Historical and Architectural Structure plan, to an appropriate scale.

ICOMOS has reviewed the project for restoration of the Far and Varangian caves labyrinths, the construction project proposal for the Malopidvalna N°3 and Dessyatynnyi provulok 3 and 5 situated within the buffer zone, the research of the monastery and river landscape of the right bank of the Dnieper surrounding the World Heritage property. The ICOMOS comments have been provided to the State Party on 19 March 2015.

It should be noted that the considerable work carried out for the reconstruction of lost buildings may have a negative impact on the OUV of the property. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre detailed information regarding these interventions.

Of concern, remain the persisting irregular practices within the buffer zone and the lack of information concerning progress made with the new cultural heritage legislation and adequate regulations for protection of the buffer zone. Currently, regulations and legal instruments seemingly fail to provide the adequate protection to the buffer zone. Definitions of building heights are too general and do not differentiate between the diverse characteristics of the urban areas in the buffer zone, leaving ample liberty for interpretation. All relevant documents, provisions, strict zoning regulations with particular emphasis on the establishment of no-construction zones and measures to limit construction permits require urgent validation and implementation in order to prevent further inappropriate development and potential threats to the OUV of the property.

It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to revise the draft of the Management Plan in conformity with the recommendations provided by ICOMOS to the State Party in 2014, and to proceed with its adoption and implementation as a matter of priority.

It is considered that although a number of measures have been taken, there are important weaknesses and deficient procedures that need to be urgently addressed in relation to interventions at heritage buildings and the adoption of a legislative framework. It is also recommended that the Committee request the State Party to implement all relevant measures specified in previous mission recommendations, Committee decisions and recommendations provided by ICOMOS to the State Party in 2015, in order to prevent further potential threats to the property’s OUV.