Despite the ban, the enterprise continues to operate, polluting the air in nearby areas
In the first part of the material, we reported on the struggle of residents of Syrets and Kurenevka against the scrap incineration plant "ADM," located just 140 meters from residential buildings. After the petition initiated by the group gathered 6,000 votes needed for consideration by the city authorities, the Kyiv City State Administration promised to finally revoke the pollutant emissions permit that had been issued to the enterprise several years ago.
Meanwhile, on the Kyiv City Council’s website, the collection of signatures continues for the relocation of another plant—the asphalt concrete production facility in Southern Borshchahivka. Residents of the area complain about the stench of asphalt and burnt rubber from the "ABZ-1" plant. Currently, the petition has gathered over 4,600 votes, with twenty-three days remaining until the end of the signature collection period.
Ban is not a barrier
On social media, residents of Southern Borshchahivka are posting photos and videos of the asphalt concrete plant's pipes on 9th May Street, from which smoke billows. The stench reaches as far as Vidradne: people are complaining of poor health, a metallic taste in their mouths, and a scratchy throat. On July 26 of this year, the State Environmental Inspection of the Capital Region conducted an unscheduled inspection at the "ABZ-1" plant, revealing significant excess levels of toxic substances in the air.
1 “According to the measurements taken at stationary emission source No. 13, a 15-fold excess of the mass flow rate of carbon monoxide (g/s) (emission – "Kashtan NEWS") was detected compared to the norm established by the permit,” the DEI publication states.
2 Carbon monoxide (CO, flue gas) is an extremely toxic substance that can cause suffocation, dizziness, and nausea even at low concentrations in the air. Upon discovering the excess, inspectors issued a directive to eliminate the violations of legislative requirements.
“The plant manager was held administratively liable,” the State Environmental Inspection reported.
3 However, despite the accountability and the directive, "ABZ-1" continued to operate. It did not cease production even after the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Serhiy Popko, issued an order on August 30, 2024, suspending the pollutant emissions permit granted to the enterprise. Interestingly, the document stated that the oversight of the order's execution was assigned to Volodymyr Prokopiv—Klychko's deputy on issues of self-governing authority. However, whether due to being overly busy or due to confusion with actual tri-power in Kyiv, Prokopiv did not fulfill this duty: the plant continued to emit smoke, literally poisoning the lives of local residents.
Untouchable asphalt
In the meantime, the case of air pollution in Borshchahivka is not the first scandal involving "ABZ-1." Specifically, according to a journalistic investigation by Bihus.info, published in 2021, the enterprise supplied asphalt for the construction of the infamous Podilsk-Voskresensky Bridge. At that time, the plant's products were lobbied by the construction subcontractor—"Modern Transport Infrastructure" LLC, owned by Valeriy Syrovatskyi. In 2020, Syrovatskyi's firm claimed that the asphalt surface laid by previous contractors on the bridge was of poor quality and proposed to lay their asphalt—produced by "ABZ-1."
4 The quality assessment of the old asphalt was commissioned from the Kyiv Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KNDISE), led by Oleksandr Ruvin. According to Bihus.info, Ruvin's wife, Halyna, was then employed at "ABZ-1." As stated in the investigation dedicated to the potential illegal enrichment of the Ruvin family, in 2021, Halyna was using a Range Rover registered to "ABZ-1," which at that time belonged to former KNDISE employee Valeriy Miroshnychenko.
That year, the Ministry of Justice tried to dismiss Ruvin from his position as director of KNDISE; however, his dismissal was not approved by Vitaliy Klychko. In a letter to the then-Minister of Justice, Denys Malyuska, Klychko stated that Ruvin is not only an experienced and effective manager but also an active member of the public Anti-Corruption Council under the Kyiv mayor (that is, under Klychko himself).
As a result, Oleksandr Ruvin remained in his position, "Modern Transport Infrastructure" LLC continues to participate in tenders, and although the "ABZ-1" plant has changed ownership (according to Opendatabot, since March 2023 it is owned by Ihor Koval'skyi), it continues to operate, despite both the directives from the State Environmental Inspection and the orders from the head of the military administration.
Two plants – one problem
Currently, residents of Southern Borshchahivka are inspired by the example of their unfortunate peers from Syrets, who managed to gather the necessary 6,000 votes for their petition demanding the cessation of operations of the scrap incineration plant "ADM." Moreover, on October 7, the director of the Environmental Protection Department of the Kyiv City State Administration, Oleksandr Voznyi, assured during a broadcast on "Kyiv24" that the permit for the emission of harmful substances for "ADM" LLC would be revoked.
5 According to Voznyi, the relevant order was published on the KCSA website on October 4.
“The enterprise has, let’s say, ten days to stop,” he reported.
On the website of the city state administration, the order to suspend the permit for the scrap incineration plant located on Syretska Street is indeed published: like the August document regarding "ABZ-1," it is signed by the head of the KVA, Serhiy Popko, and the oversight of its execution is assigned to the same Volodymyr Prokopiv. This similarity inevitably raises the thought that the order regarding "ADM" might face the same fate as that of "ABZ-1," but let’s try to be optimists: sometimes miracles do happen. Even in Kyiv.
In the meantime, not counting on a miracle, the residents of Southern Borshchahivka plan to prepare an appeal to the court regarding the operation of the asphalt concrete plant after the suspension of its permit on August 30.
"Kashtan NEWS" will monitor the developments.
P.S. On the day this material was published, the KCSA reported that the Environmental Protection Department had contacted the National Police, the city prosecutor's office, and the State Environmental Inspection, requesting a response to the operation of "ABZ-1" after the suspension of the pollutant emissions permit.
“The department sent official letters to law enforcement agencies requesting appropriate action,” the director of the department, Oleksandr Voznyi, stated on Tuesday, October 8.
Yulia TENENYOVA