Kyiv’s Metro Expansion Continues Despite War: The Story Behind the City’s Ghost Stations.

Ongoing Development of the Kyiv Metro System

According to Novyny.live: Even as the war rages on, construction of the Kyiv metro has not stopped. The Ukrainian capital is home to several unfinished stations—often called 'ghost stations'—including 'Lvivska Brama', 'Telychka', and 'Hertsena'. These incomplete structures are deeply woven into the city’s transit history, with their construction dating back to the 1990s.

Unfinished Stations

Work on 'Lvivska Brama' first began in the early 1990s. Although the metro line running through it opened in 1996, the station itself was never completed. In 2013, it gained unexpected attention when Ukrainian fashion brand 'Obrani' held a runway show there, highlighting the site’s cultural appeal despite its unfinished state.

Construction of 'Telychka' also started in the early 1990s. Today, two side platforms have been built, but the station has never entered full service. Like 'Lvivska Brama', it remains a part of the city’s incomplete metro network, which still awaits further development.

The story of 'Hertsena' is similar. Originally planned under the name 'Zahorivska' on the Syretsko-Pecherska line (M3), construction began in the mid-1990s. However, it too was left unfinished, joining the ranks of Kyiv’s many stalled metro projects.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the expansion of Kyiv’s metro continues to draw attention and remains a pressing issue for residents. Ghost stations like 'Lvivska Brama', 'Telychka', and 'Hertsena' stand as reminders of ambitious urban infrastructure plans that have yet to be fully realized.

These unfinished metro stations reflect not only the evolution of the city’s transport network but also the socioeconomic difficulties Ukraine has faced over the past decades. Amid the current war, completing these projects could mark a significant step in the capital’s recovery and growth. Investing in infrastructure—even under tough conditions—has the potential to boost the economy and improve the quality of life for Kyiv’s residents.