Editor’s Note: The city of Kyiv is run by both the elected mayor and the appointed head of the Kyiv City State Administration. Traditionally, however, the same person usually occupies both posts. But this is not set in stone. Recently, President Volodymyr Zelensky has moved to remove Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko from the position city administration head. However, the Cabinet of Ministers has not taken action on this yet. As tensions grow between Zelensky and Klitschko, the Kyiv Post asked people in central Kyiv whether they think the Kyiv mayor has done a good job.
Maryna Orlova
on maternity leave
“I’m dissatisfied with Klitschko’s work because there is chaos instead of order. Roads are bad. It’s difficult to use a baby pram in the subway. The outskirts of the city are neglected. He paid attention to the center, but it is still not maintained well enough.”
Serhiy Hryshchenko
Economics student
“Fifty-fifty. I like his attempts to do everything well. But I dislike news about the cracks in a new pedestrian bridge that connects the Volodymyr Hill with the People’s Friendship Arch”.
Alla Pylypenko
accountant
“So-so. I don’t see order on the central streets of the city. Roads, sidewalks, no flowers… At the same time, I do not see much harm”.
Oleksandr Oliynyk
civil servant
“I expected more from Klitschko, considering that he has European experience. I expected that he will implement German experience in Ukraine as he is familiar with the mayor of Germany. It’s positive that he started building parks and reconstructing roads. However, it’s more a necessity than his own initiative.”
Andriy Porohnyak
engineer
“I like that road reconstruction has started, although it is not convenient for drivers. For example, Povitroflotskyi Avenue is finally reconstructed and safe. Olesia Honchara Street is under reconstruction now. The situation didn’t get worse – and it’s good. Of course, there are questions about the Southern Bridge. But in general, everything is not so bad.”
Oleksandr Tkachenko
bank employee
“More no than yes. The construction atop Heroiv Dnipro metro station explains why I’m dissatisfied. He’s not responsible for the roads. That’s the job of (state roads agency) Ukravtodor. As the mayor, Klitschko should take care of the city. Constructing high-rise buildings in the center is still not banned. New metro lines are not being built, but the money has already been allocated”.
Larysa Zhukova
bank assistant in IT company
“There are achievements and failures. He doesn’t have a strong team, which would take care of developing the city. And Klitschko can’t do it by himself. Among the positive nuances, I like that Kyiv has been planted with new trees. But in comparison with Kharkiv, it’s still not enough. I think that this city requires more efforts.”
Roman Yelizarov
programmer
“I’m dissatisfied. There are many disadvantages in road service, problems with illegal construction. For example, that big scandal about the residential complex “Patriotyka na Ozerakh” (“Patriotica on the Lakes”). Usually, any positive actions go unnoticed.”
