Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sports is working on a project to build an ice arena in Kyiv at the Olympic Professional College named after Ivan Piddubny. The project is being considered not only as a single facility, but as part of a broader approach to restoring sports infrastructure.
The future arena already has equipment that was rescued from Kherson. It had previously been purchased with state budget funds, remains in working condition and could be used once the necessary infrastructure is created.
From saved equipment to a working facility
The next step is the construction of a frame arena. The project documentation has already been prepared and is undergoing expert review. After the facility is launched, the college could open new departments for short track and figure skating.
For Ukrainian sport, this matters because winter disciplines need specialized infrastructure that is difficult to replace with temporary training sites. The loss or inaccessibility of facilities during the war has made systematic training more complicated.
The ministry is also looking at broader financing mechanisms, including the Sports Recovery Foundation. If implemented, the project may show how preserved public assets can be reused to rebuild training capacity rather than starting every facility from zero.
