The Kovalska Group has begun extracting river sand at the Zhavyne deposit in Chernihiv region, with a projected capacity of up to 145,000 cubic meters of sand per year, according to the company’s press service.
The company acquired the Zhavyne deposit in 2022, and in 2025, it completed the process of obtaining all the necessary approvals and expert opinions for its development: a special permit for subsoil use, a positive conclusion of the expert review of the working project for the development of the deposit, and approval of the project documentation by the State Labor Service of Ukraine. This deposit is the first and only sand deposit in Chernihiv. Before its launch, the nearest operating quarry was located 60–80 km from the city.
“We continue to invest in the development of our own raw material base, in particular in the extraction of river sand. And although the deposit in Chernihiv region has not yet reached its full capacity, it already provides Kovalskaya’s enterprises and our customers with high-quality raw materials for concrete, road construction, and landscaping,” said Serhiy Pylypenko, CEO of Kovalskaya.
River sand is used as a filler in dense concrete, as well as in road construction, landscaping, and reclamation.
The Kovalskaya Group owns and operates deposits and its own fleet for sand extraction on the Dnieper (Kyiv region) and Desna (Chernihiv region) rivers. The total capacity of the Kovalskaya Group’s sand deposits is up to 1 million tons per year. The fleet includes self-propelled and non-self-propelled barges, push tugs, floating cranes, and equipment for underwater soil development and loading onto floating vessels.
The Kovalskaya Industrial and Construction Group has been operating in the Ukrainian construction market since 1956. It unites more than 20 enterprises in the field of raw material extraction, production, and construction. Its products are represented by the brands Beton vid Kovalskoi, Avenue, and Siltek. Kovalskaya’s enterprises operate in the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Lviv, and Chernihiv regions. The aerated concrete plant in the Kherson region has not been operating since the beginning of the occupation.
Prices for building materials have risen by 10–15% since the beginning of 2025, according to Sergey Pylypenko, CEO of the Kovalska Group (Kyiv), in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“On average, prices are rising at the rate of inflation—from 10 to 15%, depending on the product. The most expensive products are those that are cement-intensive, energy-intensive, or labor-intensive,” he said.
In particular, according to Pylypenko, concrete has risen in price by about 7-10% year-on-year, reinforced concrete products by 12-15%, and paving slabs by almost 20%.
Gravel and sand showed the lowest increase in price, up to 10%.
According to the expert, limited demand and the absence of large infrastructure projects do not allow prices to rise in this market. “The market (for road works) is very inactive, so everyone is trying to compete on price to the last,” he explained.
According to Pylypenko, human resources showed the highest growth, with wages increasing by 25% or more.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified people, and this is the reason why it is sometimes difficult for us to fulfill some orders as quickly as we would like. All this actually affects GDP, the competitiveness of the domestic economy, and our products. But it also encourages us to adopt more automated technologies, invest in IT solutions, improve processes, and upgrade to more modern equipment,” he said, citing the plant in Rozvadov as an example, where the entire production volume will be provided by only 40 employees.
The Kovalskaya Industrial and Construction Group has been operating in the Ukrainian construction market since 1956. It unites more than 20 enterprises in the field of raw material extraction, product manufacturing, and construction. Its products are represented by the brands Beton vid Kovalskoi, Avenue, and Siltek. Kovalskaya’s enterprises operate in the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Lviv, and Chernihiv regions. The aerated concrete plant in the Kherson region has not been operating since the beginning of the occupation.
The Kovalska Group is establishing its own architectural and engineering studio and moving to a full design cycle using its own resources, according to the company’s press service.
“Previously, our team supervised and coordinated the work of external architects and designers, but now we will be developing projects from start to finish — from the initial sketch to the interior design. It is important for us that the architectural solution for each project reflects the high standards and style of Kovalskaya,” said Olga Pylypenko, executive director of the group.
The new architectural and engineering structure of the Kovalskaya Group brings together architects, engineers, designers, and constructors. The new division will provide a full design cycle: from concept to working documentation. Kovalskaya’s architecture and engineering services are now also available to external clients.
As noted in the release, in order to further strengthen its internal expertise and integrate best international practices into its projects, Kovalskaya will continue to collaborate with leading architectural studios around the world — no longer just as a customer, but as an equal partner in joint project development. Current partnership projects include the revitalization of the historic building of the former Kyiv Distillery in collaboration with David Chipperfield Studio and the NUVO business park, which is being created together with the Dutch firm MVRDV.
Among Kovalskaya’s own projects is the design of the group’s new plant in Rozvadov. According to Serhiy Grabars, chief architect of the Kovalskaya Group, the team focuses on leading global examples of architecture and implements the principles of sustainable development, taking into account both modern technologies and local characteristics.
The Kovalskaya Industrial and Construction Group has been operating in the Ukrainian construction market since 1956. It unites more than 20 enterprises in the field of raw material extraction, production, and construction. Its products are represented by the brands “Beton vid Kovalskoi,” “Avenue,” and Siltek. Kovalskaya’s enterprises operate in the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Lviv, and Chernihiv regions. The aerated concrete plant in the Kherson region has not been operating since the beginning of the occupation.
