The sprawling, million-plus city of Kiev is built on hills, and to prevent landslides and protect its residents, engineers were brought in to help. They developed an intricate groundwater drainage system that keeps the city’s inhabitants safe. These systems stretch for many kilometers, and some of them have remarkable stories, even wrapped in legend.
The History of Underground Kiev
Almost the entire area beneath Kiev is riddled with drainage galleries. Some have several tiers, converging in wells and waterfalls. The Askoldov system, located near the Arsenalnaya metro station, is considered the most extensive and labyrinthine. Drainage gallery systems (DGS) have many exits to the surface, especially in the hills.
Almost all of Kiev’s DGS were built to the same design: a trapezoidal gallery assembled from concrete ribs. Sometimes the integrity of the walls is broken by pipes that drain water from the surface and from aquifers. Older systems have an arched vault; the Nikolskaya DGS, for example, is a vivid example of that period. It is only two kilometers long and was built in 1916.
All systems are under the auspices of the Special Directorate of Anti-Groundworking Underground Works (SUPPR), which has divided the capital into sections and carries out regular inspections of the state of the tunnels. Each tunnel is essentially a recreated karst cave, so you can often find real stalactites, cave pearls and stalagmites here — and bats have even taken refuge here, sometimes flying into diggers who try to scare them off with lantern light.
Kiev Urbex Tour to tunnels and Bunker is waiting for you! Join our adventure!
Nikolskaya Drainage Gallery
These labyrinths were built back in 1916 and were given the serial number DS 17-bis. Above one of the tunnel entrances, you can still find a memorial sign bearing the emblem of the Ministry of Railways. This place is now partially flooded, and getting through means wading in waist-deep water. By the way, the adit got its name from diggers who wanted to show their respect for Nicholas II.
The labyrinths were built in a dead-end face and have preserved their integrity and strength even after a hundred years.
From a historical point of view, these are the most interesting mazes. Nikolskaya has two levels, but the second one can be reached only through a six-meter well. Today, two new additions — AL 17-bis — have been made to the adit, helping to reduce the load on the older mazes and drain them when necessary. The mounting chamber for the tunnel-boring shield of the 17-bis gallery takes the form of a round tunnel built from concrete tubbing, with rails.
Part of Nikolskaya could be mistaken for an underground river, especially when you consider the 22-meter Tsarsky Well, through which water from the Askoldovoy DSB flows into Nikolskaya. The well is six meters in diameter, and the water from it eventually flows into the Dnieper through the cascade gallery. This is also where one of the exits to the surface of these legendary tunnels is located.
The second tier of Nikolskaya is unrefined, giving it a completely different atmosphere — created by brick walls stamped with the plant owner’s monogram on each brick. The masonry reveals the skill of the masters of the last century, and how well it has been preserved is truly impressive.
Askoldov Drainage System
If you’ve ever noticed the heavy iron doors along the slopes above the Dnipro, then you already know how to enter the Askoldov tunnels. Groundwater is discharged through them into the Dnipro to help prevent landslides.
Askoldov was built in the “classic” Kiev style, using a trapezoidal gallery in which the ribs were set by hand in a dead-end face.
Part of this system, like Nikolska, was built in the 19th century, so in the oldest parts of the labyrinth you can find characteristic arches. It probably originally served to divert the groundwater of the Military Nikolsky, which has not existed since the 1930s. Askoldov even contains a wall made entirely of stone! And all this sits right next to the modern part, where ornate underground tunnels are lined with concrete tubbing, of the kind used in the construction of the metro.
Kiev’s dungeons hold many secrets, but with the guidance of an experienced guide, they can easily be unraveled. Do you want to see stalactites in a dungeon beneath a megacity and try to work out whether it’s a stranger’s whisper or just drops from an underground waterfall? Then we invite you on an excursion to Nikolskaya and Askoldov. 🙂
Hi, its possible to go to the underground with you? Whats the price if we are 9 people? 🙂 Thank you Katie