Khotyn Fortress | Nearly UAH 3 Million for the Assessment and Restoration of the Damaged Wall

Nearly UAH 3 Million Allocated to Investigate the Deterioration

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has allocated nearly UAH 3 million to investigate the causes that led to the collapse of a section of the western wall of Khotyn Fortress and to develop a restoration project. Specialists are currently assessing the condition of the monument and the measures required to halt the deterioration process.

Successive Deterioration of the Defensive Wall

A section of the defensive wall collapsed on April 17, while on August 5, additional elements of its upper section became detached. As a result of the successive deterioration, four battlements have been completely lost.

Moisture and Freezing Among the Causes Under Investigation

The exact causes of the collapse have not yet been established. Elizaveta Buinovska, director of the Khotyn Historical and Architectural Reserve, identified water infiltration into the masonry and repeated freeze-thaw cycles among the possible contributing factors.

The wall consists of stone outer layers, while its interior contains a mixture of brick, lime, sand and small stones. These materials may be vulnerable to the effects of moisture and low temperatures.

The Impact of Dniester Water Levels and the War Is Also Being Examined

Specialists are also examining the potential effects of fluctuations in the water level of the Dniester River, groundwater flows and vibrations caused by Russian attacks. At this stage, these remain hypotheses that will be confirmed or ruled out through technical investigations.

Ivan Verbytskyi, First Deputy Minister of Culture, noted that the affected area had shown signs of moisture documented in historical photographs as early as the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The same section of the wall had also been damaged in 1769, when a cannonball strike caused the outer layer to detach.

Two Projects to Protect and Restore the Wall

The reserve administration has commissioned two sets of specialized technical documentation. The first focuses on water drainage and eliminating a potential cause of the deterioration, while the second aims to restore the damaged section of the wall.

To assess the monument’s structural condition, specialists have already carried out investigations using ground-penetrating radar and 3D laser scanning, allowing them to identify potential voids, cracks and hidden deformations.

The Fortress’s Location Makes Intervention More Difficult

Historian Mykola Ilkiv, from Chernivtsi National University and a member of the commission that examined the fortress, believes that the deterioration may have resulted from a combination of factors. According to him, the preparatory and investigative work could prove more complex and time-consuming than the intervention itself.

The height of the walls, which exceeds 40 metres, as well as their location above the canyon, makes technical intervention particularly challenging. The ongoing investigations are expected to determine the appropriate solutions for stabilizing the affected section and preventing further collapses.