There are plans to close the Tarakaniv Fort to tourists: reasons and the current state of the landmark

One of the most famous fortification sites in the Rivne region may temporarily lose its status as a tourist destination. Due to the dilapidated condition of certain structures, regional authorities have initiated a request to the relevant ministries to restrict visits and implement measures to preserve the site. Learn more about the reasons for the possible closure of Tarakaniv Fort, its property status, and the prospects for the site’s development as a tourist destination

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A situation has arisen in the Rivne region that could temporarily prevent tourists from visiting one of Ukraine’s most famous 19th-century fortifications. The Rivne Regional Military Administration has appealed to the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Culture to restrict access to the Tarakaniv Fort and take measures to preserve it. This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine.

We discuss the reasons for restricting access, the content of the regional administration’s appeals to central authorities, the property status of the monument, and the long-standing twists and turns regarding its transfer to regional ownership in the article below.

Why is the Rivne Regional Military Administration requesting that access to the Tarakaniv Fort be closed?

The basis for the appeal was an emergency situation that arose on the monument’s grounds due to the collapse of a casemate. In a letter dated April 15, 2026, the Rivne Regional Military Administration officially appealed to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, specifically to the Housing and Maintenance Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is responsible for the site. The administration is requesting that access for visitors be closed immediately and that appropriate emergency repairs be carried out.

At the same time, the region has appealed to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine with a separate request—to include the Tarakaniv Fort in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine. This involves granting the monument the status of an architectural object of local significance, which will create additional legal grounds for its preservation. The Regional State Administration emphasizes that further questions regarding the fort’s operational regime and possible conservation will be resolved following the relevant government decision.

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Who owns the Tarakaniv Fort and under whose jurisdiction does it fall?

Currently, the Tarakaniv Fort is owned by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The site is part of Military Town No. 13, where it is designated as Building No. 1. The total area of the land plot on which the monument is located is 63.9 hectares. Operational management of this territory is carried out by the Housing and Maintenance Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This property status imposes certain restrictions on the local authorities’ management of the site. All fundamental decisions regarding the fort’s future—its operational status, preservation, or transfer to another entity’s balance sheet—require approval at the interagency and government levels. It is precisely this legal framework that has been one of the key reasons why the issue of transferring the fort to regional municipal ownership has been under discussion for over five years without a final resolution.

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The Issue of Transferring the Fort to Regional Municipal Ownership

The Rivne Regional State Administration had previously appealed to the Ministry of Defense regarding the transfer of the entire property complex of Military Town No. 13 to the joint ownership of the territorial communities of the region’s villages, towns, and cities.

In response, the Ministry of Defense proposed an alternative solution to the issue—dividing the existing land plot into two parts. Under this proposal, an area of 58.49 hectares would remain in the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the needs of the Armed Forces, while a plot of 5.41 hectares is to be transferred to regional communal ownership.

This approach was intended to create conditions for the further development of the fort as a tourist attraction while simultaneously preserving part of the territory for military needs. An additional factor complicating the prospects for the site’s development is the region’s current strategic document. The Rivne Region Development Strategy for the period up to 2027 does not provide for the implementation of regional tourism infrastructure development projects specifically on the territory of the Tarakaniv Fort—funding for relevant measures to develop the tourist site is not planned in the document.

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History of the discussion on the site’s tourism potential

Discussions about transforming the fort into a full-fledged tourist attraction have been ongoing since at least 2019. In October of that year, the then-head of the Rivne Regional State Administration, Vitaliy Koval, publicly stated that the Tarakaniv Fort has significant tourism potential but remains neglected and underdeveloped. At that time, it was reported that the Ministry of Defense was ready to transfer the fort to the region’s jurisdiction along with an 8.68-hectare plot of land for the development of tourism infrastructure—parking lots, ticket offices, trails, hotels, and restaurants.

In February 2020, the “Dubno Castle” and “Tarakaniv Fort” tourism complexes were included in the investment priorities of the Rivne Region Development Strategy through 2027. As early as May 2020, the Regional State Administration reported reaching agreements with the Ministry of Defense regarding the transfer of the fort along with a 5.4-hectare plot, and in July, it was noted that all approvals required by law had been obtained. In October 2020, the head of the Regional State Administration raised the issue of the fort’s transfer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who promised to facilitate a resolution and announced the inclusion of the site in the major restoration program for 2021. Despite the agreements reached, the full legal formalities for the transfer have not yet been completed.

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What is known about the Tarakaniv Fort as a landmark?

The Tarakaniv Fort, also known as the Dubno Fort, is a 19th-century architectural landmark.

This fortification is located near the village of Tarakaniv in the Dubno District of Rivne Oblast. The site covers a significant area of 63.9 hectares and consists of a number of buildings and structures, including the Central Barracks and casemate facilities, which found themselves at the center of the current emergency.

The immediate impetus for the regional authorities to take action was the event of April 14, 2026—it was then that the destruction of part of the fort’s Central Barracks became known. This incident, along with the collapse of the casemate mentioned in the Regional State Administration’s appeal, painted a comprehensive picture of the monument’s critical condition. Until a corresponding government decision is made regarding the regime for the site’s continued operation and possible conservation, the presence of tourists on the fort’s grounds may pose risks to their safety.

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While the situation surrounding Tarakaniv Fort is being resolved at the level of relevant ministries and the government, Ukraine offers dozens of other fortifications, castles, and unique historical sites open to visitors. The Visit Ukraine portal has prepared ready-made tours to the country’s most interesting locations—historical sites in Western Ukraine, central regions, and other destinations where travel is currently safe and comfortable.

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Reminder! Spring is a great time for short trips around Ukraine on a budget, as accommodation prices during the off-season remain 20–30% lower than in the summer. An overview of affordable destinations in Ukraine in the spring of 2026 — follow the link.

Photo: Wikipedia

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