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D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban
de elopmen : A case o a second- ie Uk ainian ci y
Oleksiy Gna iuk1, Anna Klymenko1
1 Ta as She chenko Na ional Uni e si y o Kyi , Kyi , Uk aine
Co esponding au ho : Oleksiy Gna iuk ([email p o ec ed])
Copy igh : © Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko
This is an open access a icle dis ibu ed unde
e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion
License (A ibu ion 4.0 In e na ional – CC BY 4.0).
Resea ch A icle
Abs ac
This s udy explo es he d i e s (explana o y ac o s) and spa ial pa e ns o subu ban
de elopmen in Vinny sia, a second- ie Uk ainian ci y, wi hin he b oade con ex o
pos -socialis u ban ans o ma ion. The objec i e o he pape is o iden i y he d i e s
o subu ban de elopmen o Vinny sia as a second- ie Uk ainian ci y a he le el o
indi idual se lemen s and o unco e he gene al spa ial pa e ns o i s subu ban a ea.
D awing on spa ial ea u es o subu banisa ion including popula ion change, housing
mode nisa ion, eal es a e ma ke ac i i y, and cons uc ion pe mi s, he esea ch e-
eals a dis inc cen e–pe iphe y s uc u e o he subu ban a ea, asymme ically dis-
ibu ed along he sou hwes -no heas axis. The subu ban a ea comp ises h ee qua-
si-concen ic zones, each exhibi ing a ying le els and o ms o subu ban de elopmen .
The i s zone, di ec ly adjacen o he ci y, is domina ed by classical wes e n- ype sub-
u banisa ion, in ol ing he in lux o a luen esiden s and he eme gence o low- ise
and mul i-s o ey housing. The second zone, s e ching 15–20 km om he ci y cen e,
is cha ac e ised by housing mode nisa ion a he han new cons uc ion, wi h com-
me cial ac i i y concen a ed nea majo highways. The hi d zone, up o 30 km away,
shows only pa ial ans o ma ion, mainly h ough he eno a ion o exis ing homes,
which may be equally e e ed o bo h subu ban and pe i-u ban de elopmen . Logis ic
eg ession con i ms p oximi y o he cen al ci y as he mos in luen ial ac o ac oss
all indica o s, while landscape ea u es and access o highways also con ibu e signi i-
can ly. The esea ch iden i ies asymme ies oo ed in bo h na u al landscape p e e enc-
es and he spa ial con igu a ion o he ci y i sel . No ably, adminis a i e e o ms ha e
ailed o align go e nance bounda ies wi h unc ional subu ban in eg a ion. The s udy
concludes ha subu banisa ion in Vinny sia e lec s hyb id dynamics o pos -socialis
de elopmen , me ging un egula ed u ban expansion wi h spon aneous and policy-d i -
en mode nisa ion. The indings o e insigh s o spa ial planning in second- ie ci ies,
ad oca ing o mo e in eg a ed app oaches o subu ban and pe i-u ban go e nance.
Key wo ds: Fac o s, pos -socialis ci y, subu banisa ion, Vinny sia
1. In oduc ion
The subu ban a ea is a dynamic en i onmen whe e u ban and u al a eas in e -
ac , leading o a undamen al ans o ma ion o adi ional se lemen sys ems,
changes in he social s uc u e o he popula ion, he eme gence o unique
Academic edi o : Chad S addon
Recei ed:
26 Ap il 2025
Accep ed:
21 Augus 2025
Published:
01 Oc obe 2025
Ci a ion: Gna iuk O, Klymenko A
(2025) D i e s and spa ial pa e n o
pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen :
A case o a second- ie Uk ainian ci y.
Jou nal o he Bulga ian Geog aphical
Socie y 53: 87–118. h ps://doi.
o g/10.3897/jbgs.e157082
Jou nal o he Bulga ian Geog aphical Socie y 53: 87–118 (2025)
DOI: 10.3897/jbgs.e157082
88
Jou nal o he Bulga ian Geog aphical Socie y 53: 87–118 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/jbgs.e157082
Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
land-use pa e ns, and landscape ans o ma ions. Resea ching he d i e s (ex-
plana o y ac o s) o subu ban de elopmen helps iden i y pa e ns in hese
p ocesses, which is c ucial o e ec i e planning and managemen o u ban
and egional de elopmen . Unde s anding subu ban de elopmen d i e s a
he le el o indi idual se lemen s allows o iden i ying a eas wi h he highes
g ow h po en ial and hose a isk o socio-economic s agna ion, p edic ing he
load on anspo , social, and en i onmen al in as uc u e, p e en ing chao -
ic cons uc ion, i a ional land use, and u ban con lic s (McG ego e al. 2005;
Ra e z e al. 2013; Kubeš and No áček 2019). Ul ima ely, his con ibu es o he
balanced de elopmen o he ci y and i s subu ban a ea, as well as o speci ic
pa s o he la e .
In pos -socialis coun ies, subu ban de elopmen ypically di e s signi i-
can ly om he wes e n model, ep esen ed i s o all by he ypical US o Ca-
nadian subu bs (Beau ega d 2006; Kubeš and No áček 2019), due o di e -
ences in socio-economic and ins i u ional condi ions du ing he pos -socialis
e a (Bo én and Gen ile 2007; Lee maa and Tamma u 2007; Zaku ynska and
Sly ka 2016; Lozynskyi 2022). The legacy o So ie planning also plays a signi -
ican ole. Du ing he socialis pe iod, ci ies de eloped unde s ic ly egula ed
schemes ha did no accoun o ma ke -d i en mig a ion mechanisms and did
no allow classical subu banisa ion p ocesses o un old ully. Ins ead, summe
esidences (so-called “dachi”) se ed as a socialis su oga e o classic sub-
u bia (Lee maa e al. 2012). Howe e , wi h he collapse o socialism, con ol
o e spa ial de elopmen weakened conside ably, leading o chao ic subu ban
cons uc ion, he des uc ion o g een spaces, ag icul u al land, and aluable
na u al landscapes, as well as an inc easing imbalance be ween housing de-
elopmen and se ice sec o expansion (Kubeš and No áček 2019; Lozynskyi
2019; Ha di e al. 2020). This also esul ed in ising commu e mig a ion and,
consequen ly, inc eased p essu e on anspo in as uc u e, along wi h g ow-
ing social seg ega ion be ween a luen subu bani es and he less a luen local
long- e m esiden s (Gna iuk e al. 2021). Un egula ed subu ban de elopmen
can lead o a ange o social and en i onmen al p oblems, making his issue
pa icula ly c i ical o pos -socialis coun ies. In u n, success ul manage-
men o subu ban de elopmen equi es an unde s anding o he ac o s and
spa ial pa e ns o subu ban expansion in pos -socialis ci ies.
Unde s anding di e ences in subu ban de elopmen a he se lemen le el
is c ucial because each subu ban se lemen has i s own unique cha ac e is-
ics, including he le el o anspo connec i i y wi h he cen al ci y, access
o u ban in as uc u e, na u al ea u es ( e ain, p esence o wa e bodies,
o es s), socio-economic composi ion o he popula ion, economic cha ac e -
is ics, local he i age, and iden i y (Kok and Ko ács 1999; Man ey and Sud a
2019; Gna iuk e al. 2021; Lozynskyi 2022). This is pa icula ly impo an in he
con ex o a gene al end owa d decen alisa ion and he inc easing ole o lo-
cal sel -go e nmen in democ a ic coun ies, whe e many spa ial de elopmen
decisions a e made a he local le el. Thus, esea ch ocusing on a local le el
helps de elop a ge ed de elopmen policies ha conside he speci ic needs
and po en ial o pa icula a eas. S udying he explana o y ac o s o subu -
ban de elopmen a he se lemen le el is essen ial o ensu ing he balanced
g ow h o u ban egions. Fo pos -socialis ci ies, which ha e unde gone sig-
ni ican changes in go e nance s uc u es, economy, and demog aphics, such
89
Jou nal o he Bulga ian Geog aphical Socie y 53: 87–118 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/jbgs.e157082
Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
esea ch no only helps explain cu en ends bu also allows o o ecas ing
u u e de elopmen scena ios while minimising he isks o uncon olled u ban
sp awl (Slae and Ko ache 2014; We ne e al. 2022; Cocheci and Pe işo
2023).
The as majo i y o li e a u e on subu ban de elopmen in pos -socialis
coun ies ocuses on la ge me opolises, wi h only a ew publica ions explo ing
he peculia i ies o second- ie ci ies (Ma lo ič and Sedláko á 2007; Gna iuk
2016; Zaku ynska and Sly ka 2016; Repaská e al. 2017; Kubeš and No áček
2019; Ha di e al. 2020; Gna iuk e al. 2021; Ha di 2022; Kubeš and Ouředníček
2022; Ilie a e al. 2023). Mo eo e , despi e a signi ican shi in he pas de-
cade, Uk aine emains on he pe iphe y o knowledge p oduc ion ega ding
e en pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen (K yczka e al. 2025). By ocusing
on he second- ie ci y o Vinny sia, Uk aine, we aim o add ess his gap and
p o ide new insigh s in o subu ban de elopmen om a global u ban pe iphe y.
The objec i e o his s udy is o iden i y he ac o s in luencing subu ban de-
elopmen in Vinny sia as a second- ie Uk ainian ci y a he le el o indi idual
se lemen s, as well as o unco e he gene al spa ial pa e n o i s subu ban
a ea. A spa ial pa e n o subu ban a ea e e s he e o he geog aphic dis ibu-
ion and con igu a ion o subu ban g ow h, including he loca ion, densi y, and
s uc u e o esiden ial a eas, anspo ne wo ks, and land use ypes in ela ion
o he cen al ci y.
T adi ionally, he de elopmen o he subu ban a ea is closely associa ed wi h
he p ocess o subu banisa ion. In i s classical sense, subu banisa ion e e s o
he mo emen o p edominan ly a luen ci y dwelle s o he subu bs, d i en by
en i onmen al conside a ions – o escape he disad an ages o u ban li e and
seek a highe -quali y and mo e amily-o ien ed li es yle in g eene , mo e p i a e,
and socially exclusi e se ings. As a esul , classical wes e n-s yle subu bs a e
ypically low- ise esiden ial a eas ha emain highly dependen on he cen al
ci y o employmen , leading o inc eased commu ing (Hi 2007). Addi ionally,
subu banisa ion e e s o he s age o u ban egion de elopmen when he pop-
ula ion o subu ban a ea is g owing as e han ha o he ci y in absolu e o
ela i e numbe s (Osada 2003; Sýko a and Poso á 2011; K yczka e al. 2025).
Howe e , he obse ed o ms o ci y- o-hin e land in e ac ion wo ldwide a e
no limi ed o classical wes e n-s yle subu banisa ion. Ins ead, subu banisa-
ion is jus one o se e al p ocesses o ypes o subu ban de elopmen (Fo d
1999; Hi 2007; Ouředníček 2007).
In pa icula , ou ypes o pe i-u ban g ow h ha e been iden i ied based on
he o igin o mig an s, hei ela ionship o he me opoli an egion, hei mo i-
a ion, housing quali y and accessibili y (Fo d 1999; Fishe 2003): (1) subu -
banisa ion – mig a ion om he me opoli an cen e o he nea es subu bs; (2)
coun e -u banisa ion – mig a ion om he me opoli an cen e o mo e dis an
subu ban zone; (3) popula ion e en ion – main aining popula ion le els wi hin
he subu ban a ea; and (4) cen i ugal mig a ion – om he subu bs back o he
me opoli an cen e.
Depending on he social p o ile, o igin, employmen and main mo i a ion o
mig an s, he ollowing p ocesses changing he ace o subu ban a ea a e dis in-
guished (Hi 2007): (1) wes e n- ype subu banisa ion – he eloca ion o a luen
households om he me opoli an cen e o u al a eas; (2) u ban u alisa ion, o
de-u banisa ion – he mo emen o low-income popula ions om he me opol-
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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
i an cen e o he pe i-u ban a ea; and (3) u al u banisa ion – he mo emen o
low-income popula ions om he u al hin e land o he me opoli an cen e.
De eloping he amewo k o he di e en ia ed subu ban de elopmen ,
Ouředníček (2007) iden i ied se en mig a ion p ocesses based on mo i a ion,
connec ion o he cen al ci y, housing quali y, and he in luence o p e ious and
new places o esidence: (1) om he me opoli an cen e o newly buil hous-
ing (subu banisa ion); (2) om he me opoli an cen e o al eady exis ing old
housing; (3) om he me opoli an cen e o nu sing homes o he elde ly; (4)
om he me opoli an cen e o a second home (seasonal subu banisa ion); (5)
om he me opoli an cen e o dis an loca ions (de-u banisa ion); (6) wi hin
he subu ban zone ( angen ial mig a ion); (7) om o he pa s o he coun y
and ab oad (long-dis ance mig a ion).
Lozynskyi (2022) explici ly wa ns ha subu ban illages in Uk aine should
no be e e ed o as “subu bs” o “subu bia” since only a po ion o hem e-
sembles adi ional Ame ican subu bs. He sugges s ha he e m “subu bs”
should be applied only o hose pa s o subu ban illages o ci y ou ski s ha
exhibi cha ac e is ics ypical o Ame ican subu bs.
Alongside he concep o subu ban de elopmen , he e is a ela ed bu dis-
inc e m – pe i-u ban de elopmen . The la e e e s o he s uc u al ans-
o ma ion o u al a eas unde he in luence o he ci y, esul ing in he blu ing
o he bounda y be ween u ban and u al spaces, he o ma ion o a mixed u -
ban- u al landscape, and he in e wea ing o u ban and u al unc ions. Pe i-u -
ban a ea is gene ally de ined as an u ban- u al ansi ion bel ha expe ienc-
es a subs an ial impac om he ci y in social, economic, and en i onmen al
aspec s, making i signi ican ly di e en om adjacen u al a eas beyond
he ci y’s di ec in luence (Iaquin a and D esche 2002; McG ego e al. 2005;
A am 2009; Pio e al. 2011; Ra e z e al. 2013; Go e o e al. 2023; Zbo owski
e al. 2023). Exis ing heo e ical models o pe i-u ban a eas desc ibe g adu-
al cen e-pe iphe y ansi ion om he cen al ci y o he u al hin e land: he
u al-u ban con inuum model (Waugh 2000) dis inguishes subu ban a ea, u -
ban shadow and u al a ea, while he spa ial mo phology model (Thuo 2013)
ou lines such basic s uc u al elemen s o he u ban egion as inne and ou e
u ban inges, u ban shadow, and u al hin e land. Ci ies a e seen as cen es
o inno a ion di usion and poles o g ow h (Pe oux 1955; F iedmann 1972),
capable o signi ican ly ans o ming he subu ban a ea e en in he absence o
di ec popula ion mig a ion o o om i . Gi en he mul iplici y and di e si y o
o ms o subu ban de elopmen and app oaches o de ine his me e concep
(Fo sy h 2012), in his esea ch we o en canno clea ly dis inguish he ea u es
and esul s o pu e subu banisa ion om hose o pe i-u banisa ion, and hus
he e ms “pe i-u ban a ea” and “pe i-u ban de elopmen ” a e o en used in he
a icle, albei he main ocus is e ained on subu banisa ion.
The speci ic de elopmen ajec o ies o en i e subu ban a eas and hei in-
di idual pa s a e highly a iable and esis uni e sal sys ema isa ion, equi ing
a deep unde s anding o egional and local con ex s.
Fi s ly, he de elopmen o subu ban a eas is in luenced by he b oade so-
cial, economic, cul u al, and poli ical-ins i u ional con ex (Bo én and Gen ile
2007; Lee maa and Tamma u 2007; Lee maa e al. 2009; B ade e al. 2010;
Slae and Ko ache 2014; Lozynskyi 2022). The ac o s and spa ial pa e ns
o subu ban de elopmen depend on he combina ion and in e play o he p o-
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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
cesses (e.g. subu banisa ion, de-u banisa ion, coun e -u banisa ion) occu ing
wi hin a pa icula u ban egion, e lec ing mo i a ions o mig an s o and om
subu ban a ea.
Secondly, he ans o ma ion p ocesses wi hin subu ban a eas a y signi i-
can ly depending on he size o he cen al ci y. Mo e de ailed heo e ical expla-
na ion o his pa e n has been p oposed wi hin he amewo k o a di e en ial
u banisa ion heo y (Geye and Kon uly 1993; Kon uly and Geye 2003). I has
been demons a ed, including based on he Uk ainian ma e ial (Mezen se and
Ha yliuk 2015; Gna iuk 2017; Ha yliuk 2021), ha la ges ci ies a e as e
en e ing he subsequen s ages o u ban e olu ion, and subu banisa ion p o-
cesses a e mo e in ensi e, al hough he e a e nume ous de ia ions om he
gene al ule. The pa e ns o mig a ions (cen i ugal s. cen ipe al) and mo i s
o mig an s may also di e depending on he size o a cen al ci y/u ban egion
in he same coun y (Mezen se e al. 2019, 2020).
Thi dly, he as majo i y o subu ban a eas exhibi a clea cen e-pe iphe y
s uc u e wi h espec o he cen al ci y, subdi iding in o se e al zones ha
di e in he p esence, in ensi y, and p opo ion o a ious phenomena such as
esiden ial, comme cial, and indus ial subu banisa ion, as well as p ocesses
like subu banisa ion, coun e -u banisa ion, e c. (Lee maa and Tamma u 2007;
Pidg ushnyi e al. 2020; Siko ski and Szmy kie 2021). This s uc u e ends o be
mo e ex ensi e, p onounced, and polycen ic (wi h addi ional economic g ow h
poles as edge ci ies, e c.) in la ge me opoli an a eas (Sýko a and Ouředníček
2007; Ma cińczak 2012; Tanaś 2013; Pidg ushnyi e al. 2023) and mo e com-
pac , less di e en ia ed, and monocen ic in second- and hi d- ie ci ies (Ma -
lo ič and Sedláko á 2007; Zaku ynska and Sly ka 2016; Kubeš and No áček
2019; Ilie a e al. 2023). The in luence o local ac o s can in oduce signi i-
can asymme y in he de elopmen o pa icula sec o s o he subu ban a ea.
The e o e, he p esence o a gene al isible asymme y (Gna iuk 2016) o a
sec o al s uc u e aligned wi h he ou ing o majo anspo a e ies (Mezen -
se and Mezen se a 2017; Kubeš and No áček 2019; Gie czak-Ko zeniowska
2020; Uba e ičienė and Bu neika 2020; Dudek-Mańkowska e al. 2024; Ju kow-
ski e al. 2024) is a ai ly widesp ead phenomenon.
Fou hly, he in ensi y and na u e o subu ban de elopmen can a y signi i-
can ly be ween di e en pa s o he subu ban a ea and speci ic subu ban se -
lemen s. Resea ch on subu ban de elopmen in he P ague me opoli an a ea
demons a es a ia ions in spa ial pa e ns, he in ensi y o spa ial p ocesses,
and he social and economic s a us o new subu bani es (Ouředníček 2007).
Mezen se (2017) iden i ies i e ypes o subu ban spaces in Uk aine, di e ing
in hei su ounding en i onmen , he na u e o changes, housing ypes, and
li es yles: u al se lemen s a ec ed by subu banisa ion, new co age owns,
o me seasonal “dacha” se lemen s ans o med in o pe manen esidences,
g owing So ie -e a sa elli e owns, and a eas o in a-u ban subu banisa ion.
Man ey and Sud a (2019), based on he Wa saw Me opoli an Region se ing,
elabo a ed a ypology o subu bs based on six c i e ia: (1) he le el o neigh-
bou hood (spa ial scale), (2) he ime when he neighbou hood was e ec ed,
(3) spa ial in e ac ion wi h he nea es own/ci y, (4) he p e ailing ype o in-
es men , (5) s ee layou , and (6) access o he ci y cen e by public anspo .
Mo e o less simila ypologies o subu ban se lemen s ha e been p oposed
by di e en au ho s o di e en con ex s (Zębik 2011; Repaská e al. 2017).

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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
Fi hly, ex eme he e ogenei y o subu ban buil en i onmen s and li es yle
o ms is obse ed (Walks 2013; Dymi ow and S enseke 2016; Phelps 2017; Keil
2018), as well as coexis ence o di e en buil o ms and li es yles wi hin a sin-
gle subu ban se lemen (Mezen se e al. 2019; Gna iuk e al. 2021; Lozynskyi
2022), and, a imes, e en wi hin a single s ee (P o o a and Melnychuk 2025).
Gi en he a o emen ioned di e si y o subu ban a eas, we can iden i y ce -
ain gene al g oups o explana o y ac o s ha ei he p omo e o hinde he de-
elopmen o subu ban se lemen s. Despi e he global end owa d inc easing
unc ional au onomy and independence o subu ban a eas (Golubchiko e al.
2010; Ha is 2010; Pidg ushnyi e al. 2020), a signi ican  and in some cases
c i ical  dependence o e e yday li e in he subu bia on he cen al ci y pe sis s.
Wi h his in mind, wo ac o s a e ypically decisi e: he dis ance o he cen-
al ci y and he quali y o anspo a ion connec ions (Wolny and Ź óbek 2017;
Bogusz e al. 2024; Dudek-Mańkowska e al. 2024). Fo a luen subu bani es,
a key ad an age is he a ailabili y o as and high-quali y oad connec ions,
while o poo e popula ion g ea e impo ance is placed on subu ban ail and
bus se ices, as well as he ex ension o u ban public anspo ou es in o he
subu ban a ea. P oximi y o he cen al ci y is also impo an in e ms o loca -
ing la ge e ail and logis ics cen es in he subu ban a ea – hey mus be easily
accessible o u ban esiden s as well, which makes loca ions a he e y edge
o he ci y, wi hin each o public anspo , he mos a ou able (Ronse e al.
2015; Pei e -Smadja and To e 2018; Siko ski and Szmy kie 2021). In ecen
yea s, alongside anspo a ion connec i i y, he quali y o mobile communica-
ion and in e ne access has also become inc easingly impo an .
The s a us and popula ion size o a subu ban se lemen also ma e (Kubeš
and Ouředníček 2022). On he one hand, he la ges subu ban se lemen s
 pa icula ly sa elli e owns and u ban- ype se lemen s  ypically ha e mo e
de eloped economies (and he e o e mo e job oppo uni ies) and be e so-
cial in as uc u e, making hem mo e a ac i e o mig an s (Bogusz e al.
2024). In addi ion, due o he hie a chical na u e o spa ial inno a ion di usion
(Häge s and 1967), he de elopmen o comme cial in as uc u e in he la g-
es and mos p ominen se lemen s occu s mo e apidly (Ronse e al. 2015;
Pei e -Smadja and To e 2018; Pidg ushnyi e al. 2020; Siko ski and Szmy kie
2021; Kazako e al. 2024). On he o he hand, om he pe spec i e o a luen
subu bani es seeking p oximi y o na u e and social exclusi i y, ela i ely small
illages may be mo e a ac i e (Mezen se and Mezen se a 2017).
Impo an ac o s ha a ac po en ial esiden s o classical wes e n-s yle
subu bia include en i onmen ally a ou able li ing condi ions and pic u esque
landscapes, such as he p esence o i e s, lakes, and o es ed a eas (Mez-
en se and Mezen se a 2017; Uba e ičienė and Bu neika 2020; Bogusz e al.
2024). A he same ime, i should be no ed ha en i onmen al ac o s and
p oximi y o “unpleasan ” o haza dous acili ies do no always ac as limi ing
ac o s. Fo ins ance, co age owns in he subu ban a ea o Kyi  he Uk ainian
capi al  a e being buil in he di ec ion o he Cho nobyl Exclusion Zone, nea
land ills o solid and cons uc ion was e, and close o he T ypillia The mal
Powe Plan (Mezen se and Mezen se a 2017). Na u al condi ions also ma -
e as ac o s ha ei he c ea e mo e con enien condi ions o cons uc ion
( la e ain, low g oundwa e le els, s able soils, access o wa e esou ces),
o , on he con a y, hinde de elopmen ( ugged e ain, dense o es s, swamp-
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iness, lood o landslide isks, e c.) (Ma ushchyne s 2020; Uba e ičienė and
Bu neika 2020). This applies no only o esiden ial de elopmen bu especially
o indus ial and comme cial cons uc ion. The e o e, he same na u al condi-
ions may ha e opposi e e ec s on he de elopmen dynamics o a subu ban
se lemen depending on he local con ex .
Among o he d i e s, he image and epu a ion o a pa icula se lemen
mus be men ioned. Se lemen s wi h a well-de eloped local iden i y and land-
ma ks may expe ience highe de elopmen a es. Low land and p ope y p ices
also con ibu e o he de elopmen o subu ban a eas (Bogusz e al. 2024).
Howe e , in ensi e subu ban g ow h ypically leads o a su ge in p ices, mean-
ing ha o en p ices should be conside ed no as a d i e bu a he as a ea u e
o subu ban de elopmen . In some cases, he ac o o e hnici y ma e s oo
(Uba e ičienė e al. 2015; Š eda e al. 2016). Finally, legal and adminis a i e
se ings play an impo an ole, including local au ho i ies and hei policies
ega ding e i o ial de elopmen (Kok and Ko ács 1999). In pa icula , his con-
ce ns he de elopmen s a egy o he subu ban communi y (e.g., whe he o
in eg a e in o he cen al ci y o o emain a sepa a e communi y), spa ial plan-
ning and pe mi ing policies (such as whe he mul i-s o y, indus ial, o com-
me cial cons uc ion is allowed), and in es men policy.
2. Ma e ials and me hods
2.1. Case s udy a ea
The ci y o Vinny sia, a egional cen e in he sou h-wes o Uk aine wi h a pop-
ula ion o ca. 370000, has al eady been he subjec o subu banisa ion s udies
in Uk aine (Gna iuk 2016, 2017; Gna iuk e al. 2021). O e he pas decades,
Vinny sia has been among he Uk ainian ci ies demons a ing p onounced
popula ion g ow h in he pe i-u ban a ea, while he popula ion o he ci y i sel
has s agna ed o e en declined (Gna iuk 2017). This end indica es ha he
ci y and i s u ban egion ha e en e ed he subu banisa ion s age o he u ban
de elopmen li ecycle ( o di e en app oaches o he de ini ions o he subu -
banisa ion s age o u ban de elopmen see Osada (2003), Sýko a and Poso á
(2011) and Ha yliuk e al. (2021)).
Resea ch on housing mode nisa ion based on emo e sensing da a (Gna iuk
2016) sugges s ha he subu ban de elopmen o Vinny sia is in luenced by
se e al key ac o s: he aes he ic quali ies o landscapes, he con igu a ion o
majo anspo a e ies, di e ences in he unc ional p o iles o a ious pa s
o he cen al ci y, and geog aphical posi ion ela i e o o he adjacen ci ies.
The a ea in luenced by he cen al ci y was ound o ha e an a e age adius o
25 km, albei wi h dis inc spa ial asymme y. In pa icula , he highes a es
o subu ban g ow h we e obse ed in he sou h-wes e n and wes e n sec o s.
Two ac o s may be po en ially impo an o shaping his une en subu -
ban de elopmen a ound Vinny sia. The i s o hem is a pa e n o na u al
landscapes (Fig. 1). The landscapes o he wes and sou h-wes o Vinny sia
exhibi highe aes he ic appeal due o mo e dissec ed e ain, g ea e o es
co e age, and pic u esque g ani e ou c ops in i e alleys, in con as o he
p edominan ly la and hea ily cul i a ed landscapes o he no h-eas and eas
o he ci y. Thus, he landscapes in he wes e n sec o may be mo e a ac i e
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o subu bani es. Simul aneously, plain e ain and mo e e ile soils may a ou
he indus ial and ag icul u al de elopmen eas wa d o he ci y. The second
explana o y ac o may be spa ial s uc u e o he cen al ci y (Fig. 2). Vinny -
sia’s his o ical co e is loca ed in i s wes e n ( igh -bank) pa and con ains he
majo i y o he ci y’s educa ional and cul u al ins i u ions. The la ges esiden-
ial neighbou hoods a e concen a ed in he wes e n and sou h-wes e n pe iph-
e ies o he ci y. Residen ial and comme cial-se ice de elopmen s, o ien ed
owa d he end-use , di ec ly bo de he subu ban a ea in his pa o he ci y.
In con as , he no h-eas e n and eas e n ou ski s o Vinny sia ep esen an
almos con inuous bel o indus ial and wa ehouse zones, which o m an un-
desi able neighbou ing en i onmen o po en ial subu ban esiden s and hin-
de access o comme cial in as uc u e – o example, he nea es shopping
malls in he inne ci y. This may hinde esiden ial subu banisa ion, howe e , i
does no necessa ily impede indus ial and, o a lesse ex en , se ice-o ien ed
subu ban de elopmen (c . Uba e ičienė and Bu neika 2020).
Mo e ecen esea ch (Gna iuk e al. 2021) ocusing on Ah onomichne, a il-
lage on he u ban inge o Vinny sia (ma ked wi h he le e A in Fig. 1), has
e ealed a dominan wes e n- ype pa e n o pe i-u ban de elopmen . Speci -
ically, he majo i y o newcome s a e o me u ban esiden s, mos o whom
eloca ed om he cen al ci y. These newcome s end o be mo e a luen han
Figu e 1. The s udy se ing. Elabo a ed by he au ho s based on Google Maps (2024), Popula ion S a is ic o Eas e n
Eu ope (2024), and Denysyk GI e al. (2008).
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long- e m esiden s and ha e highe social s a us. Thei p ima y mo i a ions
o mo ing o subu bia include a quie e li ing en i onmen and be e heal h
condi ions, aligning wi h he b oade concep o u ban escape. Fu he mo e,
mos newcome s eside in newly cons uc ed housing. Howe e , some subu -
bani es in Ah onomichne epo ed mixed mo i a ion  u ban escape combined
wi h lowe housing cos s  indica ing ha he s eam o mig an s o subu bia is
no homogeneous: weal hy mig an s a e accompanied by indi iduals wi h ela-
i ely lowe incomes (Gna iuk e al. 2021). O cou se, Ah onomichne is only one
u al se lemen in he subu ban zone o Vinny sia, so he conclusions d awn
om i canno be uncondi ionally ex ended o o he pa s wi hin he subu ban
o , mo e so, pe i-u ban a ea. Ne e heless, i p o ides some gene al unde -
s anding o he subu ban de elopmen on he ci y’s u ban inge. The e o e, he
subu ban de elopmen o Vinny sia should be classi ied as subu banisa ion
(mig a ion om he cen al ci y o he nea es subu ban bel ) (Fo d 1999; Fishe
2003), wes e n- ype subu banisa ion ( eloca ion o weal hy households om
he cen al ci y o he coun yside) (Hi 2007), and cen i ugal mig a ion om
he cen al ci y o he subu ban a ea, p edominan ly o he newly-buil housing
(Ouředníček 2007).
Figu e 2. Spa ial s uc u e o Vinny sia: main mo phological and unc ional a eas. Elabo a ed by he au ho s based on he
Vinny sia Mas e Plan (Vinny sia Ci y Council 2021).
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ully a ibu ed o me hodological limi a ions (such as he unde es ima ion o
mode nised housing uni s in mul i-s o ey apa men buildings).
Gi en i s ex ensi e ch onological co e age, his indica o appea s o mos
comp ehensi ely e lec changes in he housing sec o o Vinny sia’s subu ban
a ea, cap u ing bo h he di ec p ocess o subu banisa ion and he mode nising
in luence o he cen al ci y. In pa icula , esiden s o subu ban illages end
o engage mo e ac i ely in he mode nisa ion o hei homes due o inc eased
income oppo uni ies om employmen in he ci y, imp o ed physical access
o goods and se ices ma ke s in Vinny sia, and emula ion o he li es yles and
housing aes he ics o mo e a luen subu ban mig an s (Gna iuk e al. 2021).
The spa ial pa e n e lec ed by he hi d indica o ep esen s a snapsho o
he eal es a e ma ke in he subu ban a ea o Vinny sia as o 2024 (Fig. 3C).
Again, we obse e he leading de elopmen o he u ban inge, a mo e dis an
zone cha ac e ised by a g adual decline in eal es a e ma ke ac i i y o back-
g ound hin e land le els, and a gene al asymme y along he sou hwes –no h-
eas axis, which is e iden wi hin bo h zones. Howe e , he simila i y be ween
he pa e ns is no comple e. In pa icula , a signi ican numbe o se lemen s
wi h a ela i ely high sha e o new o mode nised housing exhibi e y low eal
es a e ma ke ac i i y. This disc epancy may be a ibu ed o di e ences in he
empo al co e age o he wo indica o s, as well as o ins ances o housing
mode nisa ion unde aken by subu ban esiden s wi hou p ope y ansac-
ions – a phenomenon mo e ypical o he mo e emo e subu ban zone.
The analysis o he ou h indica o  he numbe o issued cons uc ion pe -
mi s (Fig. 3D)  e eals a somewha di e en spa ial pa e n. Fi s ly, he con-
as be ween he u ban inge and he mo e emo e subu ban zone is less p o-
nounced. Secondly, while he o e all spa ial asymme y pe sis s, i s na u e is
di e en : wi hin he u ban inge, he mos in ensi e de elopmen adi ionally
occu s in he wes e n di ec ion, whe eas in he mo e dis an subu ban zone, i
is obse ed owa d he eas and sou h-eas . O e all, he a ea o e iden u ban
in luence ex ends app oxima ely 15–20 km beyond he ci y’s ou e bounda y.
Thi dly, he size and s a us o he se lemen appea o ma e : owns and u -
ban- ype se lemen s s and ou wi h highe numbe s o issued cons uc ion
pe mi s, bo h wi hin he zone o clea u ban in luence and beyond i , a dis anc-
es exceeding 20 km om he ci y bounda y. This disc epancy can be explained
by he ac ha he p e ious indica o s e e ed exclusi ely o he esiden ial
sec o , whe eas cons uc ion pe mi s co e a ious sec o s o de elopmen . In
his case, i may be supposed he ole o small owns loca ed 20–25 km om
Vinny sia as seconda y cen es o mode nisa ion.
A deepe unde s anding o he si ua ion can be gained by analysing he unc-
ional a ilia ion o he acili ies unde cons uc ion o econs uc ion (Fig. 4).
Pe mi s o he cons uc ion and econs uc ion o housing we e issued in a lim-
i ed numbe o subu ban se lemen s, p ima ily hose loca ed nea he bo de
o Vinny sia. These a e he a eas whe e indi idual apa men buildings, en i e
esiden ial complexes, as well as la ge ownhouses and ga ed co age commu-
ni ies a e being de eloped. The same se lemen s eco ded he highes num-
be o pe mi s in he comme cial eal es a e sec o , indica ing ha comme cial
subu banisa ion a ound Vinny sia la gely ollows esiden ial de elopmen and
is o ien ed owa d se ing he subu ban popula ion (c . Ma lo ič and Sedláko á
2007; Pidg ushnyi e al. 2020, 2023). A he same ime, comme cial eal es a e

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pe mi s we e also issued in o he se lemen s ha a e no unde going mass
housing de elopmen . These a e mainly se lemen s loca ed nea majo high-
ways, whe e comme cial acili ies ca e no only o he local popula ion bu
also o ansien lows o clien s, including hose om he cen al ci y. In pa -
icula , au o se ice s a ions, logis ics cen es, and la ge chain supe ma ke s
a e h i ing in hese a eas (c . Dębińska and Pałubska 2021). I is also e iden
ha esiden ial subu banisa ion has igge ed he de elopmen o he social
in as uc u e in he subu ban zone, especially in he a eas closes o he cen-
al ci y. The ypical spa ial asymme y o issued cons uc ion pe mi s ac oss
he analysed sec o s is again obse ed, wi h he wes e n and sou h-wes e n
sec o s de eloping ahead o he no h-eas e n and eas e n sec o s. By con-
as , he eas e n sec o is mo e ac i e in he implemen a ion o in as uc u e
p ojec s – a likely explana ion being ha pa o his sec o belongs o he Vin-
ny sia u ban e i o ial communi y, which, since i s es ablishmen in 2020, has
ca ied ou signi ican municipal in es men s in he in as uc u e de elopmen
o subu ban illages.
The ques ion ha has emained unadd essed hus a conce ns he eason
o he o e all spa ial asymme y obse ed in Vinny sia’s subu ban a ea. This
asymme y ollows a dis inc and ecu en pa e n ac oss a ious indica o s.
Based on he ange o iden i ied empi ical ac s, bo h di e ences in he na u al
landscapes o he wes and he eas o he ci y and he spa ial s uc u e o he
cen al ci y i sel may con ibu e o he obse ed pa e n.
Be o e d awing inal conclusions on he ac o s in luencing subu ban de el-
opmen in Vinny sia, i makes sense o examine he esul s o he logis ic e-
g ession analysis (Tables 2, 3). The mos impo an ac o , by a ou weighing
all o he s in magni ude, is p oximi y o he cen al ci y. In pa icula , a dis ance
o less han 10 km om he cen e o Vinny sia ( e e ence ca ego y: >20 km) in-
c eases he likelihood o a se lemen expe iencing e y in ensi e subu ban de-
elopmen by be ween 14 imes (cons uc ion pe mi s) and 1430 imes ( eal y
ad e isemen s); a dis ance wi hin he 10–20 km ange inc eases hese odds
by be ween 6 imes (popula ion g ow h) and 43 imes ( eal y ad e isemen s).
A dis ance o a majo highway o less han 4 km p o ed o be a s a is ically
signi ican p edic o only o eal es a e ad e isemen s (bo h s ong and so
c i e ia, wi h odds a ios o 13.3 and 4.9, espec i ely), and o cons uc ion
pe mi s (only o he so c i e ion, wi h an odds a io o 2.7).
In se e al models, landscape ype also has a s a is ically signi ican impac .
Fo ins ance, se lemen s loca ed wi hin landscape ype 1 we e signi ican ly
mo e likely o all in o he ca ego y o hose wi h he highes popula ion g ow h
(odds a io: 5.6) and he la ges sha e o new o mode nised esiden ial uni s
(odds a io: 11.2). Simila ly, se lemen s wi hin landscape ype 2 had highe
odds o expe iencing s ong popula ion g ow h (odds a io: 3.9) and he highes
ac i i y o eal y ma ke (odds a io: 2.4). Howe e , he o es co e age ac o ,
ini ially hypo hesised as a p edic o o mo e in ensi e subu ban de elopmen ,
u ned ou o be la gely insigni ican ; in one o he models ( o es co e age
>20%, cons uc ion pe mi s, so c i e ion), i was e en a s a is ically signi i-
can p edic o o weake subu ban de elopmen (odds a io: 0.3). The wa e
co e age ac o was also mos ly s a is ically insigni ican , excep in one model
(wa e co e age 0.2–0.5%, new/mode nised esiden ial uni s, so c i e ion),
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Figu e 4. Absolu e numbe s o issued cons uc ion pe mi s and unc ional ypes o ( e)
cons uc ed objec s. Elabo a ed by he au ho s based on O icial Regis e o Planning
Condi ions and Res ic ions (2025).
whe e a posi i e ela ionship be ween wa e co e age and subu ban de elop-
men was de ec ed.
Rega ding he size and s a us o he se lemen , i was ound ha he small-
es illages (popula ion < 500) we e signi ican ly mo e likely o be among hose
wi h he highes sha e o new o mode nised esiden ial uni s. A he same ime,
small se lemen s (popula ion in be ween o 500 and 1000) we e less likely o
ha e la ge numbe o cons uc ion pe mi s issued. Fo ac o s such as p oximi y
o subu ban ailway s a ions and p oximi y o undesi able acili ies, no s a is i-
cally signi ican in luence on subu ban de elopmen indica o s was de ec ed.
Thus, he mos impo an d i e de e mining he in ensi y o se lemen de-
elopmen in he subu ban a ea o Vinny sia du ing he pos -socialis pe iod
is p oximi y o he cen al ci y. A he same ime, p oximi y o majo highways,
landscape ype, and se lemen size also play a signi ican ole. Conside ing
ha landscape ype appea s as a s a is ically signi ican p edic o only o
ce ain indica o s o subu ban de elopmen , i is likely ha he in e nal spa ial
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s uc u e o he cen al ci y (as p e iously discussed) also exe s an in luence.
A he same ime, no s a is ically signi ican e ec s we e iden i ied o o es
co e age, wa e co e age, p oximi y o subu ban ailway s a ions, o p oximi y
o undesi able acili ies.
Based on he mul i a ia e a e age o all ou indica o s ( ea u es o subu ban
de elopmen ), he subu ban a ea o Vinny sia exhibi s a cen e-pe iphe y s uc-
u e consis ing o h ee quasi-concen ic zones, asymme ically dis ibu ed
a ound he cen al ci y, wi h clea hin s o sec o al s a -shaped pa e n ela ed
o he main i e and mo o ways (Fig. 4). D awing on he indings o his s udy,
including ield obse a ions, and p e ious s udies (Mezen se e al. 2019; Gna-
iuk e al. 2021), hese zones can be cha ac e ised oge he as ollows.
Table 2. Bina y logis ic eg ession esul s (odds a ios): p edic o s o ‘ e y in ense’ subu ban de elopmen .
Independen a iables
(co a ia es)
Popula ion g ow h
(1989-2001), %
> 0.00
New/mode nised
esiden ial uni s
(2024), %, > 9
Cons uc ion pe mi s
pe 1000 esiden s
(2017–2024), > 2
Real y ad e isemen s
(Feb ua y 2025)
pe 1000 esiden s
(2001), > 25
Dis ance o cen al ci y cen e:
10–20 km ( e . > 20 km) 5.825* 33.843*** 7.146** 42.770***
Dis ance o cen al ci y cen e: < 10
km ( e . > 20 km) 36.987*** 774.700*** 14.220** 1430.736***
Dis ance o main mo o way:
< 4 km ( e . > 4 km) 1.845 2.632 3.380 13.345*
Dis ance o subu ban ain s a ion:
< 4 km ( e . > 4 km) 0.895 1.547 0.801 0.786
Fo es co e age:
10 –20% ( e . < 10%) 0.502 2.753 0.804 1.384
Fo es co e age:
> 20% ( e . < 10%) 1.144 2.022 0.941 1.659
Wa e co e age:
0.2–0.5% ( e . < 0.2%) 0.611 1.033 0.657 0.656
Wa e co e age:
> 0.5% ( e . < 0.2%) 0.689 3.598 1.030 3.590
Landscape: ype 1
( e . ype 3) 5.590* 11.282* 0.603 0.215
Landscape: ype 2
( e . ype 3) 3.870* 4.431 0.563 2.444*
Undesi ed objec : a leas 1 objec
in 5 km
( e . no objec s)
2.734 2.309 2.057 2.617
Popula ion (1989):
500–1000 ( e . > 1000) 0.660 1.522 0.700 0.967
Popula ion (1989):
< 500 ( e . > 1000) 0.541 9.692* 0.879 2.117
Cons an 0.010 0.000 0.029 0.000
O e all co ec p edic ions, % 89.2 89.9 83.5 93.0
Hosme -Lemeshow Tes (Sig.) 0.046 0.927 0.266 0.948
Nagelke ke R Squa e 0.327 0.604 0.323 0.723
No e: odds coe . = Exp(B); * p < 0.1; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001.
Sou ce: Calcula ions by he au ho s.
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The i s zone includes se lemen s di ec ly adjacen o Vinny sia and is cha -
ac e ised by he highes in ensi y o subu ban de elopmen . The p ima y d i -
e o g ow h he e is classical wes e n- ype subu banisa ion. La ge clus e s o
new subu bs a e eme ging in his a ea, coexis ing wi h olde pa s o illages
and ownships, which a e also unde going subs an ial mode nisa ion. This is
he only zone whe e mul i-s o ey esiden ial cons uc ion wi h apa men blocks
is p esen . In some loca ions, he new housing me ges seamlessly wi h ha o
he ci y, making his a ea inc easingly esemble a na u al ex ension o he u ban
ab ic. Comme cial subu banisa ion is o ien ed, on he one hand, owa ds mee -
Table 3. Bina y logis ic eg ession esul s (odds a ions): p edic o s o ‘mode a ely in ense’ subu ban de elopmen .
Independen a iables
(co a ia es)
Popula ion g ow h
(1989–2001), %
> - 0.25
New/mode nised
esiden ial uni s
(2024), %,
> 5
Cons uc ion pe mi s
pe 1000 esiden s
(2017–2024), > 0
Real y ad e isemen s
(Feb ua y 2025)
pe 1000 esiden s
(2001), > 5
Dis ance o cen al ci y cen e:
10–20 km
( e . > 20 km)
3.737* 12.338*** 4.346** 41.191***
Dis ance o cen al ci y cen e: <
10 km
( e . > 20 km)
8.612** 189.357*** 3.349 269.738***
Dis ance o main mo o way:
< 4 km ( e . > 4 km) 1.723 1.566 2.731* 4.904*
Dis ance o subu ban ain s a ion:
< 4 km ( e . > 4 km) 1.156 1.120 1.151 1.015
Fo es co e age:
10–20% ( e . < 10%) 0.704 1.410 0.591 1.285
Fo es co e age:
> 20% ( e . < 10%) 0.684 1.463 0.263* 3.288
Wa e co e age:
0.2–0.5% ( e . < 0.2%) 1.784 3.695* 0.532 0.533
Wa e co e age:
> 0.5% ( e . < 0.2%) 1.055 1.684 0.976 2.148
Landscape: ype 1
( e . ype 3) 2.319 4.198* 1.014 0.450
Landscape: ype 2
( e . ype 3) 1.952 6.614** 0.523 1.042
Undesi ed objec : a leas 1 objec
in 5 km
( e . no objec s)
2.591 0.529 1.236 0.956
Popula ion (1989):
500–1000 ( e . > 1000) 0.710 1.588 0.172** 0.938
Popula ion (1989):
< 500 ( e . > 1000) 0.381 4.415* 0.082*** 1.630
Cons an 0.006 0.015 0.947 0.120
O e all co ec p edic ions, % 82.9 82.3 81.6 88.6
Hosme -Lemeshow Tes (Sig.) 0.758 0.625 0.483 0.921
Nagelke ke R Squa e 0.261 0.514 0.467 0.683
No e: odds coe . = Exp(B); * p < 0.1; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001.
Sou ce: Calcula ions by he au ho s.
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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
ing he needs o Vinny sia esiden s (e.g., la ge e ail chains), and on he o he
hand, ollows esiden ial subu banisa ion by esponding o he demands o he
new subu ban popula ion. While he li es yle o esiden s in his zone is mos ly
subu ban, i inc easingly acqui es u ban cha ac e is ics (c . Gna iuk e al. 2021).
The second zone includes se lemen s loca ed app oxima ely 15–20 km
om Vinny sia’s cen e in sou h-wes e n di ec ion, na owing o 5–10 km in
he no h-eas e n di ec ion. Wes e n- ype subu banisa ion is also p esen he e,
hough la ge-scale clus e s o new subu ban de elopmen a e a e. A mo e sig-
ni ican ole is played by he mode nisa ion o exis ing housing s ock – ei he
by newcome s o by long- e m esiden s. Comme cial ac i i y is weak and gen-
e ally consis en wi h ypical u al de elopmen pa e ns in he egion, wi h he
excep ion o se lemen s along majo highways, whe e comme cial se ices
a e mo e o ien ed owa d se ing ansi a ic. The e e yday li e o esiden s in
his zone likely combines elemen s o bo h subu ban and u al li es yles.
The hi d zone ex ends up o app oxima ely 30 km om he ci y cen e in he
sou h-wes e n di ec ion and na ows o 15–20 km in he no h-eas e n di ec-
ion. The in luence o he cen al ci y is subs an ially weake he e, cen i ugal
mig a ion plays only a mino ole, and con inuous subu ban de elopmen clus-
e s a e la gely absen . None heless, le els o subu ban de elopmen  pa icu-
la ly in e ms o mode nising exis ing housing  emain abo e he backg ound
Figu e 5. Spa ial s uc u e o Vinny sia’s subu ban a ea.

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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
le els obse ed in he wide hin e land. The p e ailing li es yle in his zone is
u al, wi h isola ed subu ban elemen s. Comme cial subu banisa ion has no
eached his zone up o he momen .
4. Discussion
The spa ial ex en o pos -socialis subu banisa ion in Cen al and Eas e n
Eu ope (CEE) mos ly depends on he popula ion size o he ci y (Kubeš and
No áček 2019). This s udy con i ms he p e ious es ima e o he subu ban
zone o Vinny sia as ex ending app oxima ely 15–20 km om he ci y bound-
a y (c . Gna iuk 2016). A he same ime, he se lemen s ha can be clas-
si ied as subu bs acco ding o he c i e ia p esen ed in he li e a u e (Kubeš
and No áček 2019), a e loca ed wi hin 5–10 km om he ci y bounda y. When
compa ed wi h o he CEE ci ies (Ma lo ič and Sedláko á 2007; Czako á 2009;
Halás e al. 2012; Š eda e al. 2016; Wolny and Ź óbek 2017; Kubeš and Ouřed-
níček 2022; Zbo owski e al. 2023), i becomes e iden ha he subu ban a ea
o Vinny sia (wi h a popula ion o a ound 400000) co esponds in spa ial ex en
o ha o CEE ci ies wi h popula ions o app oxima ely 100000. This ela i e
unde de elopmen o Vinny sia subu ban a ea – a leas in e ms o esiden-
ial and comme cial subu banisa ion – can be a ibu ed o he la e onse and
lowe in ensi y o subu banisa ion p ocesses in Uk aine compa ed o o he CEE
coun ies (Mezen se 2017; Mezen se and Mezen se a 2017). Fu he mo e,
he spa ial ex en o Vinny sia subu ban a ea is signi ican ly smalle han ha
o Uk aine’s capi al ci y, a majo me opoli an cen e (Mezen se and Mezen -
se a 2017; Pidg ushnyi e al. 2023). A he same ime, i is sligh ly la ge han
he subu ban zone o I ano–F anki sk, a second- ie ci y in wes e n Uk aine
wi h a popula ion o app oxima ely 250000 (Zaku ynska and Sly ka 2016). This
is consis en wi h Vinny sia’s la ge popula ion and i s e iden ansi ion o he
subu banisa ion s age, in con as o I ano–F anki sk, whe e he cen al ci y
has con inued o g ow a a as e pace han i s subu ban a ea (Gna iuk 2017).
The subu ban a ea o Vinny sia exhibi s a ela i ely simple quasi-concen ic
s uc u e ha aligns well, in e ms o subu ban de elopmen in ensi y, domi-
nan p ocesses, and p e ailing li es yles, wi h exis ing heo e ical models o
pe i-u ban a eas. Fo ins ance, wi hin he u al-u ban con inuum model (Waugh
2000) he i s concen ic zone can be in e p e ed as subu ban, he second as
he u ban shadow, and he hi d as a u al a ea wi h a modes , ye non-negligible,
u ban in luence. Acco ding o he spa ial mo phology model o u ban egions
(Thuo 2013), he i s zone co esponds o he ou e u ban inge, he second o
he u ban shadow, and he hi d o he u al hin e land. Acco ding o Zbo owski
e al. (2023), he i s concen ic zone is a zone o subu baniza ion, aking a
o m o ypical u ban sp awl, while he second and hi d zones o m a zone o
pe i-u baniza ion/commu ing. Clea pa allels can be d awn wi h he cen e-pe-
iphe y spa ial s uc u e obse ed in o he ci ies o simila ank bo h in Uk aine
(Zaku ynska and Sly ka 2016) and beyond (Kubeš and No áček 2019; Ilie a e
al. 2023). A he same ime, as in many o he cases, he concen ic s uc u e o
Vinny sia subu ban a ea is dis o ed by sec o al asymme y. Unlike la ge me -
opoli an a eas, whe e his asymme y is ypically d i en by he o ien a ion o
adial oad and ail co ido s (Mezen se and Mezen se a 2017; Podawca e al.
2019; Kubeš and Ouředníček 2022; Pidg ushnyi e al. 2023; Dudek-Mańkowska
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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
e al. 2024; Ju kowski e al. 2024), in he case o Vinny sia, i can be p ima ily
a ibu ed o di e ences in na u al landscapes and he speci ic spa ial con ig-
u a ion o he cen al ci y i sel (c . Š eda e al. 2016; Zaku ynska and Sly ka
2016; Uba e ičienė and Bu neika 2020).
The spa ial asymme y o subu ban de elopmen obse ed in he case o
Vinny sia poses signi ican challenges o he in eg a ed de elopmen o he
ci y and i s subu ban a ea. Following he adminis a i e- e i o ial e o m o
2020, he leas de eloped subu ban se lemen s loca ed o he eas and no h-
eas o Vinny sia op ed no o es ablish independen e i o ial communi ies,
bu ins ead chose o join he Vinny sia u ban e i o ial communi y. Lacking
s ong sou ces o e enue o hei local budge s, hese se lemen s p io i ised
he bene i s o coope a ion wi h he ci y, pa icula ly in e ms o budge a y in-
es men s in in as uc u e de elopmen . In con as , se lemen s o he wes ,
no h, and sou h o Vinny sia  cha ac e ised by mo e in ensi e subu banisa ion
and s onge economic capaci y  chose o es ablish hei own sepa a e e i o i-
al communi ies, he eby e aining con ol o e hei local esou ces. As a esul ,
a pa adoxical and ine icien si ua ion eme ged in e ms o ci y-subu b go e -
nance: he subu ban se lemen s mos closely in eg a ed wi h he ci y (some
pa s o hem a e e ec i ely ans o ming in o de- ac o u ban neighbou hoods)
we e excluded om he bounda ies o he u ban e i o ial communi y. This is
pa ly he esul o he sho comings o he 2015–2020 adminis a i e- e i o-
ial e o m and he absence o an e ec i e mechanism o in e municipal co-
ope a ion wi hin u ban agglome a ions in Uk aine (Udo ychenko e al. 2017;
Pa lo e al. 2024). New challenges also a ise in he con ex o he Russian–
Uk ainian wa . In 2023, a modula se lemen o in e nally displaced pe sons
was es ablished in he u ban- ype se lemen o Vo ono y sia, loca ed sou h-
eas o Vinny sia. I can be assumed ha he choice o loca ion o he modula
se lemen was d i en by he “lowe p es ige” o his sec o o he subu ban
a ea. As a esul , he socio-spa ial con as be ween di e en sec o s o he
subu ban a ea is u he exace ba ing, while he esiden s o he modula se -
lemen u n ou o be maximally isola ed in spa ial e ms om he main bene-
i s o u ban li e compa ed o being loca ed in ano he pa o he subu ban a ea
(c . Ha yliuk 2024).
The iden i ied d i e s shaping he de elopmen o he subu ban a ea o
Vinny sia align wi h he wes e n- ype subu banisa ion p ocess: a luen subu -
bani es, mo i a ed by he pu sui o mo e com o able and highe -quali y li ing
condi ions in close p oximi y o na u e, eloca e om he cen al ci y while
main aining s ong ies o i . Depending on hei inancial capaci ies, hese sub-
u bani es choose mo e expensi e housing in de ached houses o ownhouses,
op o mo e a o dable apa men s in mul i-s o ey buildings, o in es in he
mode nisa ion o olde homes eads. The a ailabili y o social in as uc u e
and local employmen oppo uni ies in he subu ban a ea is no a decisi e ac-
o o such mig an s due o hei egula connec ion wi h he cen al ci y. This
si ua ion mi o s ha o pos -socialis second- and hi d- ie ci ies (Ma lo ič
and Sedláko á 2007; Kubeš and No áček 2019; Ilie a e al. 2023), bu con as s
wi h pos -socialis me opolises, whe e economic de elopmen and social in-
as uc u e a e among he key d i e s o subu ban g ow h (B ade e al. 2010;
Bogusz e al. 2024; Dudek-Mańkowska e al. 2024; Kazako e al. 2024). A sim-
ila con as exis s wi h Kyi , whe e clus e s o wes e n-s yle classical subu bs
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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
coexis wi h high- ise subu ban de elopmen s inhabi ed by a ious ca ego ies
o in-mig an s, including hose om o he egions o he coun y, who a e in
sea ch o cheape housing and a mo e a o dable li es yle in p oximi y o he
capi al (Mezen se and Mezen se a 2017; Mezen se e al. 2019, 2020). Since
a luen Uk ainians p ima ily ely on p i a e ehicles a he han he la gely un-
com o able subu ban ail se ices, and gi en he ela i ely limi ed spa ial ex-
en o he subu ban a ea, subu ban ail connec i i y p o es insigni ican o he
de elopmen o subu ban a eas in second- ie ci ies –unlike in i s - ie ci ies.
A he same ime, as in he case o Kyi (Mezen se and Mezen se a 2017),
he p esence o unpleasan o undesi able acili ies does no appea o hinde
he subu ban de elopmen o Vinny sia. Conside ing he en i onmen ally d i -
en mo i a ions o classical subu bani es, his phenomenon dese es u he
in-dep h in es iga ion.
Al hough he p ocess o subu banisa ion p ima ily esiden ial and, o a less-
e ex en , comme cial  plays a key ole in ans o ming he subu ban a ea o
Vinny sia, he ci y’s in luence on i s pe iphe y ex ends beyond subu banisa ion
alone (c . Zbo owski e al. 2023). We also obse e bo h spon aneous and in en-
ional mode nisa ion e ec s o he cen al ci y on subu ban se lemen s. The
spon aneous, un egula ed impac  ou side he di ec con ol o s a e o munic-
ipal au ho i ies  mani es s i sel h ough he mode nisa ion o housing by local
esiden s, hei u ilisa ion o he ad an ages o p oximi y o a la ge ci y, pa ial
adap a ion o e e yday p ac ices o u ban li es yles, and changes in land use
pa e ns (c . Gna iuk e al 2021). The in en ional in luence is exp essed h ough
s a e and municipal policies a ge ing he de elopmen o he subu ban zone
o i s speci ic pa s, as exempli ied by he in ensi ied in es men s made by he
Vinny sia ci y adminis a ion in o he anspo and social in as uc u e o he
eas e n sec ion o he subu ban a ea, which was inco po a ed in o he Vinny -
sia municipal e i o ial communi y.
Acco dingly, wha we obse e is no me ely subu banisa ion bu a he a mul-
iplici y o subu banisms and he g adual ma u a ion o a holis ic u ban- u al
con inuum wi hin he pe i-u ban a ea (Iaquin a and D esche 2002; McG ego
e al. 2005; A am 2009; Pio e al. 2011; Ra e z e al. 2013), whe e u ban, sub-
u ban, and u al a chi ec u al o ms, li es yles, and land-use p ac ices coexis ,
hyb idise, and luidly in e ac in a ying p opo ions (Waugh 2000; Thuo 2013;
Phelps 2017; Keil 2018; Uba e ičienė and Bu neika 2020; Lozynskyi 2022). Im-
po an ly, he same ac o s may ha e di e en , some imes e en diame ical-
ly opposed e ec s depending on he p ocesses and de elopmen aspec s in
ques ion, he balance o which may shi o e ime e en wi hin he same subu -
ban zone. Fo ins ance, a hilly landscape and high o es co e age – a ibu es
alued by a classical subu bani e seeking a pic u esque en i onmen – may be
i ele an o e en undesi able o a low-income mig an in sea ch o a o dable
housing wi h good access o he ci y ia public anspo a ion, o o an en e-
p eneu looking o a loca ion o es ablish a logis ics hub o indus ial acili y.
Al hough he de elopmen o he pe i-u ban a ea  and subu banisa ion in
pa icula  en ails nume ous social, economic, and en i onmen al challenges,
including o second- ie pos -socialis ci ies (Ma lo ič and Sedláko á 2007;
Slae and Ko ache 2014; Kubeš and No áček 2019; Lozynskyi 2019; Ha di e
al. 2020; Uba e ičienė and Bu neika 2020; Ilie a e al. 2023), hese p ocesses
can and should be managed (Kubeš and No áček 2019; Lozynskyi 2019; Ca -
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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
i elli 2021; Ha di 2022; Ilyniak 2024; Kazako e al. 2024; Pa lo e al. 2024).
Unde s anding he d i e s ha lead di e en pa s o he pe i-u ban a ea o
de elop in dis inc ways and iden i ying he spa ial pa e ns ha may eme ge
a di e en s ages o de elopmen will enable u ban planne s o design mo e
e ec i e spa ial de elopmen s a egies o subu ban spaces and hei in e -
ac ion wi h he cen al ci y (Lozynskyi 2019). Thus, scien is s, local au ho i ies,
eal-es a e de elope s and he local popula ion ep esen he p incipal bene i-
cia ies o he cu en s udy’s esul s.
5. Conclusions
The p esen esea ch con ibu es o a ela i ely unde ep esen ed body o li -
e a u e on second- ie ci ies in Uk aine wi h ega ds o hei subu ban/pe i-u -
ban de elopmen . I ad oca es o g ea e a en ion o smalle u ban cen es,
whose pe i-u ban ansi ions may di e ma kedly om hose o la ge me op-
olises ye a e equally c ucial o na ional spa ial de elopmen s a egies.
The subu ban de elopmen o Vinny sia demons a es he spa ial and unc-
ional complexi y ypical o pos -socialis second- ie ci ies. Al hough subu -
banisa ion – pa icula ly esiden ial and, o a lesse ex en , comme cial – plays
a cen al ole in eshaping he ci y’s subu ban a ea, his s udy e eals ha he
ci y’s in luence ex ends beyond me e popula ion eloca ion. A nuanced blend o
subu banisa ion and b oade mode nisa ion p ocesses is e iden , mani es ing
in bo h spon aneous and policy-d i en ans o ma ions.
The analysis o ou key indica o s  popula ion g ow h, housing mode nisa-
ion, eal es a e ma ke ac i i y, and cons uc ion pe mi s  enabled he delinea-
ion o h ee concen ic subu ban zones wi h a ying de elopmen al dynamics.
The dominan d i e ac oss all indica o s is he p oximi y o he cen al ci y.
Se lemen s loca ed wi hin 10 km o he ci y cen e a e mos likely o expe-
ience in ensi e subu ban de elopmen , consis en wi h he classical model
o wes e n-s yle subu banisa ion. Beyond his ange, housing mode nisa ion
becomes mo e p ominen han new cons uc ion, e lec ing a di e en se o
mo i a ions and capaci ies among esiden s. Addi ional ac o s in luencing
subu ban de elopmen include p oximi y o highways, landscape aes he ics,
and se lemen size. While o es and wa e co e age showed limi ed s a is ical
signi icance, hilly e ain and o es ed a eas appea o a ac weal hie subu -
ban mig an s. Con e sely, he spa ial con igu a ion o Vinny sia, pa icula ly he
indus ial zones on i s no h-eas e n inge, con ibu es o spa ial asymme y in
subu ban g ow h. These dynamics unde sco e he impo ance o bo h na u al
and u ban s uc u al ac o s in shaping pe i-u ban de elopmen .
Fo u ban planne s and policymake s, he esea ch unde sco es he need
o econcile adminis a i e bounda ies wi h ac ual pa e ns o u ban in luence
and mobili y. S eng hening in e -municipal coope a ion mechanisms, enhanc-
ing da a a ailabili y, and ailo ing planning s a egies o local socio-spa ial e-
ali ies a e c i ical o p omo ing balanced de elopmen . The indings suppo
he no ion ha subu ban de elopmen in pos -socialis se ings di e ges om
wes e n ajec o ies, displaying hyb id pa e ns ma ked by un egula ed sp awl
and selec i e mode nisa ion. This hyb idisa ion necessi a es lexible and con-
ex -speci ic policy esponses.
118
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Oleksiy Gna iuk & Anna Klymenko: D i e s and spa ial pa e n o pos -socialis subu ban de elopmen
Addi ional in o ma ion
Con lic o in e es
No con lic o in e es was decla ed.
E hical s a emen
No e hical s a emen was epo ed.
Use o AI
No use o AI was epo ed.
Funding
No unding was epo ed.
Au ho con ibu ions
Concep ualiza ion: OG. Da a cu a ion: OG. In es iga ion: OG. Me hodology: OG. Visual-
iza ion: AK. W i ing - o iginal d a : OG, AK.
Au ho ORCIDs
Oleksiy Gna iuk h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0003-1818-2415
Anna Klymenko h ps://o cid.o g/0009-0000-9571-8661
Da a a ailabili y
All o he da a ha suppo he indings o his s udy a e a ailable in he main ex o
Supplemen a y In o ma ion.
Supplemen a y ma e ial 1
Da ashee
Au ho s: Oleksiy Gna iuk
Da a ype: Da ashee
Explana ion no e: A Table in MS Excel o ma con aining he aw da a pe subu ban
se lemen o analysis.
Copy igh no ice: This da ase is made a ailable unde he Open Da abase License
(h p://openda acommons.o g/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Da abase License
(ODbL) is a license ag eemen in ended o allow use s o eely sha e, modi y, and
use his Da ase while main aining his same eedom o o he s, p o ided ha he
o iginal sou ce and au ho (s) a e c edi ed.
Link: h ps://doi.o g/10.3897/jbgs.e157082.suppl1