Volunteers gathered for a toloka (community cleanup) at Zhytniy Market in Kyiv, May 5, 2025. Suspilne/Anna Sergiyets
According to Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the Kyiv City State Administration
The Rye Market has officially been included in the list of cultural heritage sites. From now on, the building is under state protection and safeguarded against demolition. This information was announced by the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Kyiv City State Administration.
Whoever becomes the owner, they will not be able to destroy this historic building
The procedure for granting the status was lengthy and required thorough examination. The commission’s experts conducted an in-depth survey, including underground spaces, technical buildings, and the market’s structures, as stated in the announcement.
This means the Rye Market will remain in its place, its architectural appearance will be preserved, and the decision on sale will be made exclusively by the deputies of the Kyiv City Council.
On July 30 of this year, the Kyiv City State Administration announced that Rye Market had entered the list of newly identified cultural heritage sites in the city of Kyiv.
The next step involved preparing and submitting a package of documents to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications with the aim of granting the monument the status of a cultural heritage site.
What is known about the Rye Market
The Rye Market, located in Podil, is among the oldest trading venues of the capital. Its roots go back to the times of Kyivan Rus, and in the 15th century it served as the city’s main trading center due to its proximity to the Dnieper and the harbor.
The modern market building was erected in 1980.
On March 19, 2025, it became known that the Rye Market would be put up for auction for the right to lease with an initial price of 2.47 million UAH. The contract was planned for 15 years, but it could be terminated early under the lease terms.
Subsequently, the auction for leasing the Rye Market in Podil was canceled.
Chef and blogger Yevhen Klopotenko called on the public to unite and participate in the lease auction to preserve Kyiv’s unique late-modernist landmark.
In July, the Kyiv City State Administration established a working group to analyze the building’s condition and propose ways to return it to proper technical status. The composition of the group was approved by a decree of the city mayor.
The content of the next steps remains focused on preserving the landmark and its role in the urban landscape, in particular as an example of late modernist architecture and the historic value of Podil.
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