Active construction of shopping and entertainment centers (SECs) continues in Ukraine. After 2022, 56 SECs were started or resumed, totaling nearly 1 million square meters of retail space. In 2025, about 250,000 square meters are planned to be put into operation, which includes the opening of 14 new shopping centers. Additionally, in 2026, an extra approximately 280,000-290,000 square meters is expected to be introduced, according to the head of the Ukrainian Council of Shopping Centers, Maksym Havryushin.
This is reported by Бізнес • Медіа
Rising Costs and New Challenges
According to Havryushin, the highest activity is observed in western and central Ukraine. The increase in the cost of building SECs during the war is due to new legislative safety requirements, particularly the installation of shelters. On average, costs have risen by 20%, but the structure of this increase is uneven. General construction work has become approximately 10-15% more expensive in currency equivalent, while engineering systems, networks, and specialized equipment have increased in price by 30-35%.
Financial Costs for Shelters
A significant expense item is the construction of shelters. Specifically, a shelter covering 3,000 square meters requires at least $3 million in additional costs. Moreover, the relevance of energy independence and energy efficiency issues has increased in recent years, and most new projects include provisions for generators at the design stage.