Elimination of the consequences of “arrivals”: professional dismantling and restoration

Today, Ukraine is experiencing unprecedented challenges from Russian missile strikes and artillery shelling. They cause significant damage to residential buildings across the country.

Statistics show that in Kharkiv, 23 more residential buildings were damaged in August 2025 alone, bringing the total number of damaged or destroyed homes to more than 9,000 since the start of the full-scale invasion. In Kyiv, the number of severely damaged apartment buildings doubled in 2025, with 88 buildings among the most affected. Of these, 49 were damaged this year. Compensation applications are still being considered in Kherson and the surrounding communities, which indicates the large number of affected families and the urgency of the housing reconstruction issue.

It is the professional dismantling of destroyed buildings that is key to eliminating the consequences of the “arrivals” and preparing for future recovery. Our company, Forest-Ukraine, has extensive experience in this area. Therefore, we would like to share with you how the consequences of destruction are professionally eliminated, why it is important for the safety of residents and how our company can help in this complex process.

Why professional dismantling is a key stage

Point lesions, commonly called “hits,” leave behind ruins and dangerous structures. The professional dismantling of such buildings is not just about speed or scope of work. It is very important to comply with safety standards and provide an opportunity to prepare the site for further reconstruction or arrangement of temporary housing. Dismantling buildings on your own is dangerous, and unskilled work can create additional risks to people’s lives and make it impossible to effectively analyze the damage.

What to do if your house was hit by a missile strike? Can you just demolish the ruins yourself? Will ordinary equipment that can be found in the neighborhood be enough, or do you need a team of specialists ready to work in difficult conditions?

It is important to professionally eliminate the consequences of shelling. This allows us to carry out the work in compliance with the technology for the safety of people and a quick transition to recovery. The help of our company, which specializes in dismantling multi-storey buildings, can be crucial in a crisis.

Consequences of “arrivals” for residential buildings

In today’s realities, the term “hits” means direct hits by missiles, drones, or artillery shells on residential and civilian objects. The blast wave from such strikes causes catastrophic damage: it deforms load-bearing structures, destroys walls and ceilings, and leads to fires and partial or complete collapse of buildings. Soviet-built panel houses, which make up the bulk of the housing stock in most Ukrainian cities, are particularly vulnerable to such impacts due to their specific design. If we categorize the damage caused by “airstrikes,” we can distinguish the following categories of damage:

1. Partial damage. This includes cracks in load-bearing walls and ceilings, destruction of exterior walls without affecting the frame, damage to the roof and upper floors. Deformation of window and door openings also occurs.
2. Complete destruction. In this case, there is a collapse of one or more floors, collapse of load-bearing structures, and complete destruction of individual sections of the building. This is also critical damage to the foundation.
3. Indirect damage. There is the destruction of communication networks (gas, water, electricity), contamination of the territory with debris and hazardous substances, and damage to neighboring buildings from the blast wave.

Real-life examples from Ukrainian cities demonstrate the scale of the problem. In Kharkiv, 15-20 new cases of critical damage to multi-storey buildings are recorded every month. For owners of damaged buildings, it is important to understand the signs of danger: noticeable tilting of walls, deep cracks in the foundation, sagging ceilings or sounds indicating further structural damage. It is strictly not recommended to enter damaged buildings without prior expert assessment, as this may result in injury or death due to structural collapse.

Why professional dismantling is a necessity

Attempts to demolish destroyed buildings on their own or to engage unprofessional crews pose serious safety risks and can lead to tragic consequences. Uncontrolled dismantling of building structures can lead to additional collapses, injuries to people, damage to neighboring buildings, and environmental contamination of the area with hazardous materials, including asbestos. In addition, an amateurish approach to dealing with the consequences of the destruction of multi-storey buildings violates Ukrainian law and may result in administrative or criminal liability. The advantages of professional building dismantling are as follows:

1. Safety of work due to the use of certified equipment and experienced personnel.
2. Compliance with the DBN of Ukraine. All works are fully compliant with the state construction standards.
3. Specialized equipment is used (excavators with hydraulic shears, truck cranes, bulldozers).
4. Environmental safety, as hazardous materials are properly disposed of.
5. The controlled process minimizes dust, vibrations and noise.
6. Legal purity, all necessary permits and approvals are provided.

Ukrainian legislation requires special permits from local authorities to dismantle multi-storey buildings, especially under martial law. An environmental impact assessment and approval from utilities to disconnect all utility networks are required. When choosing a company to dismantle a building after destruction, you should pay attention to the availability of appropriate licenses, experience in martial law, and positive feedback from previous customers.

Our company, Forest-Ukraine, has a successful track record of dismantling complex facilities in times of war: in 2023-2024, our team carried out the professional demolition of more than 40 damaged multi-storey buildings in Kharkiv and Kyiv regions. We performed a complex dismantling of a 12-storey building in the center of Kharkiv, which was completed in 18 days without a single incident.

The process of professional dismantling: step by step

The professional dismantling of multi-storey buildings after arrival is a complex technical process that requires careful planning and step-by-step execution in compliance with all safety standards. Each stage of dismantling has its own peculiarities and requires the use of specific equipment and qualified specialists. Our company has developed its own dismantling methodology that takes into account the specifics of Ukrainian panel houses and the conditions of martial law. The sequence of professional dismantling is as follows:

1. Stage 1: Comprehensive damage assessment. An inspection is carried out by qualified civil engineers, assessing the condition of the load-bearing structures and foundations, determining the type and amount of hazardous materials.
2. Stage 2: Planning and preparation. A detailed scheme for dismantling structures is developed. Permits and approvals are issued, and evacuation of residents of neighboring buildings is organized.
3. Stage 3: Dismantling works. Disconnection and dismantling of utilities, mechanical dismantling using specialized equipment. This stage involves controlled demolition from the top floors down, sorting and preparation of construction waste for removal.
4. Stage 4: Environmental measures. We ensure the safe removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials, recycling of concrete and metal structures, and cleaning of the territory from small debris.
5. Stage 5: Safety measures. We protect neighboring buildings from dust and vibration, control noise levels and adhere to the work schedule, and irrigate the area to reduce dust generation.

If your house has been affected by “arrivals” or you know someone who needs professional help dismantling the destroyed structures, do not hesitate. Contact our experts for a free consultation and assessment of the property. We have all the necessary permits and are ready to take on even the most complex and dangerous objects.