Owners of temporary structures for street trading in Kyiv have signed a collective appeal to the city mayor Vitali Klitschko, demanding a halt to the demolition of these structures until the current regulations are reviewed.
This is reported by Kyiv24
The initiative was led by Tetiana Petrenko, head of the public organization “Kyiv City Committee for Business Rescue.” She reported that representatives from various entrepreneurial communities in the capital, who have suffered due to the demolition of pavilions, have joined the initiative.
Entrepreneurs’ Demands and the Situation in Kyiv
In the appeal, entrepreneurs insist on establishing a moratorium on the demolition of temporary structures until a new, fair regulation on street trading is adopted. They demand the preservation of jobs for those who operated within the law, compensation for those whose activities were halted, and consideration of the interests of socially vulnerable groups.
Tetiana Petrenko emphasized that this is not an isolated initiative, but a united stance of entrepreneurs who work in the market, own kiosks, and pay their share, yet have faced the demolition of their pavilions without explanations.
Legal Aspects and Public Resonance
In June 2024, the Kyiv City Council approved a new regulation on the placement of temporary structures, which caused significant dissatisfaction among the capital’s entrepreneurs. On July 10, 2025, the Kyiv District Administrative Court partially satisfied the lawsuit of the public organization “Union of Entrepreneurs of Ukraine,” recognizing the regulation as unlawful and annulled the Kyiv City Council’s decision regarding it.
An additional reason for preparing the appeal was the tragic story of Zemfira Torokhtiy — an activist and owner of several kiosks in the Svyatoshyn district. Reports indicate that her temporary structures were demolished, after which she was hospitalized with a stroke and later passed away. Entrepreneurs describe this situation as a consequence of the unjust actions of the city authorities.
“Two weeks ago, the city demolished Zemfira Torokhtiy’s kiosks. One after another. Every day — another one. Like trash. Without the right to restoration. Without compensation. Without a chance. Zemfira couldn’t take it. She had a stroke. She fell at home. She was found by entrepreneurs who couldn’t reach her by phone. She spent more than a week in intensive care. And she died. And we all have to acknowledge: she didn’t just die. They drove her to it. When Tetiana Petrenko, her friend and colleague, told me about those days, I learned that another dozen and a half people have experienced similar situations in recent months: some lost their speech, some had strokes, some have trembling hands, some have passed away. People can’t take it. Because this system doesn’t even give them the right to lose with dignity…”
Meanwhile, the Department of Territorial Control, headed by Mykhailo Budilov, is actively working in the capital to regulate the placement of temporary structures and the demolition of illegal constructions. However, entrepreneurs are calling on the authorities for constructive dialogue and a review of approaches to solving the problem of street trading.