Demolition of private houses for a metro station begins in Minsk’s Orlovka district

In Minsk, demolition of the private housing sector has begun in the area of Orlovskaya, Gaya and Mozyrskaya streets to make way for the fourth, circular metro line. First to be taken down are 28 private low-rise houses and about 8 two-storey houses that are already empty, to clear the site for the future Starovilenski Shliakh station.

Demolition in Orlovka began two months ago, and it has now reached private residential buildings. In total, more than 400 houses are planned for demolition here over time, according to media reports, to make room for new high-rise blocks and metro facilities.

The area of private housing in Orlovka covers almost 80 hectares within the boundaries of Khoruzhey, Chervyakova, Kropotkina and Karastoyanovoy streets. The Ozero dispatch station, a garment factory, the Central District veterinary station, housing and utilities office No. 27, a pet supplies shop and the Yolki-Palki cafe will also be demolished.

Apartment buildings, multifunctional centres, kindergartens and car parks will be built on the site of the demolished houses. The city authorities intend to increase the population of the blocks near Orlovskaya from about 7000 to 11800 people.

Siarhei Utlik, deputy head of the Central District administration, said: "A metro is being designed and built, including along Orlovskaya Street, where 2 stations [of the circular line] will be: Orlovskaya and Starovilenskaya. In the end, in a couple of years we will see a modern, well-kept district." He also stated: "what has already been vacated is being demolished."

Heorhi Protasau, chief engineer of Minskmetraproekt, explained that the demolition in the block between the Dolhinauski Trakt and Karastoyanova Street is needed for the construction site of the Starovilenski Shliakh station, the excavation pit and detours. According to him, demolishing buildings next to the future tunnel is standard practice for optimising construction work.

Minsk residents are posting photos and videos of the demolition of the homesteads and commenting in different ways: "This is somebody's life", "I grew up here", "it hurts to watch", but also "it was long overdue" and "the city must develop".

Orlovskaya Street, Bangalore Square and Surhanava Street are part of Minsk's second transport ring, where the first stations of the fourth metro line will appear. In May 2025 it was reported that construction of the circular line would start in 2026, and in October 2025 Minskmetraproekt said it planned to place 16 stations on it.