Russian development of Yalta threatens historical monuments of the region

Chaotic construction in the temporarily occupied Yalta poses a threat to the city' s historical monuments and cultural heritage. We are talking, in particular, about the territory of Polikurovsky Hill, the protected zone of Anton Chekhov's White Dacha and other objects.

This was reported by the Center of National Resistance.

According to the CNS, in the spring of 2025, the land plot on Polikurovsky Hill was transferred to Finist LLC without a public auction. Local residents, concerned about the plans to build a multi-storey hotel complex, appealed to the Federal Register. The response, cited by the National Resistance Center, states that capital construction on the plot with cadastral number 90:22:010104:328 is impossible.

The National Resistance Center emphasizes that this territory is entirely located in the Black Sea water protection zone and an area with a special architectural and planning regime, where commercial development is prohibited. At the same time, according to the Civil Society Center, in a video from June 2025, the head of the occupation administration of Yalta, Yanina Pavlenko, assured that trees would not be cut down in this area, but in a video from 2026, the area prepared for construction is already visible.

Some claims relate to the protected zone of the "White Dacha" - the Anton Chekhov House Museum. According to the Civil Society Center, the occupation authorities allowed drilling operations on a landslide-prone slope next to the cultural heritage site. Another episode in the material is the demolition of the house of architect Mykola Krasnov on Komunariv Street. According to the Center, the modernist mansion was demolished in May 2022 before the documents on its historical value were reviewed.

The CNS also reminded that Pavlenko became the head of Yalta without elections - on the direct instructions of Sergei Aksyonov.

Earlier, the so-called restoration in Bakhchisarai led to damage to the Khan's Palace. Experts said that it was not a restoration, but a systematic destruction of the unique heritage of the Crimean Tatars.

Also in Sevastopol, the Russian occupation authorities illegally destroyed the Skalki beach in the Quarantine Bay area. The work was carried out as part of a project to improve the area near the monument to the end of the Civil War in southern Russia and to build hydraulic structures and a new beach.

Олеся Ланцман