How we rebuilt a shell-damaged balcony through eVidnovlennia on Botanichnyi Lane in Odesa
Author: Yulian Illich Kaprishanskyi, VIKNODIM (OKNODOM), Odesa
My name is Yulian Kaprishanskyi, and I manage orders at VIKNODIM. Last winter a family from Botanichnyi Lane contacted us after shelling had shattered the glazing on their balcony. A week after they approved the design, new windows made from the Turkish Wintech profile were installed, and the bill was covered by the state program eVidnovlennia (Ukraine’s compensation program for homes damaged in the war). The client later left a review on Google, so I decided to walk through this job in detail: what we did at each step, how the payment worked, and what to watch for if you are in a similar situation.
This family has ordered from us before, so we did not spend long talking about window quality. We talked about something else: how to close the balcony quickly without spending their own money.
What people actually need after shelling
When a blast takes out the windows, nobody thinks about how many chambers the profile has. The questions are different. How do I cover the opening tonight while it rains. Who will clear the broken glass. Will the state really pay, and how long will it take. How many times will I have to leave work to sort all of this out.
Our job on an order like this is to take as many of those questions off the client’s plate as we can. In her review, the client from Botanichnyi Lane singled out two things. The installation went without unnecessary noise or chaos. And she did not have to come to the office to pay. That mattered most to her, and I understand why: with broken glass at home, nobody has the energy to run around town.
What to do in the first hours after your windows are blown out
Before you even call us, a few steps will save you money and stress later. First, photograph the damage from several angles: a wide shot of the balcony or room, each broken frame separately, and the glass on the floor. These photos go into your application in Diia, and they make it easier for the commission to assess the damage. Then clear the glass from the floor and sills, but do not tear out the frames yourself. If a sash is hanging by one hinge, tape it in place rather than taking it off.
For the night, cover the opening with heavy plastic sheeting or an OSB board. Fix the sheeting to the wall with a wooden batten, not with staples into the frame, so the wind does not rip it away. If it is freezing outside and there is a radiator under the window, shut it off while the opening is exposed. A radiator that freezes and bursts has to be replaced, and the water will reach your downstairs neighbours too.
Timeline from application to installation
The order was handled by our showroom in the Kotovskoho settlement, 2 Vladyslava Buvalkina St. The sequence is the same as for any repair under the program.
| Step | What happens | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Application | The owner files a damaged-property application in Diia and attaches photos | Client |
| 2. Measurement | Measuring the openings, checking what the new frames can be anchored to, photographing the damage | Our surveyor |
| 3. Design and estimate | A new glazing layout, priced at program rates | VIKNODIM, approved by the client |
| 4. Production | Windows made at the factory, about one week | VIKNODIM |
| 5. Installation | Removing the broken frames, fitting the new ones, sealing joints outside and inside | Installation crew |
| 6. Payment | A payment link, paid by phone with the eVidnovlennia card | Client |
On jobs like this, approvals take more time than production. Here the client signed off on the design quickly, and the finished windows arrived within a week. The crew carefully carried them into the flat, removed the broken frames and installed the new ones.
The balcony after installation: some sections are fixed, some open. The Wintech protective film is still on the frames.
Why we did not copy the old glazing
The old frames were smashed, and there was no point in copying them. It is a corner balcony with glazing along two walls. We proposed a new layout: some sections fixed, some with tilt-and-turn sashes. A fixed section costs less and holds heat better because it has no sash gap. So we only put opening sashes where they are easy to reach for airing the room and cleaning the outside of the glass. A new window sill on metal brackets runs the full length.
What “sealing the joints outside and inside” means
The review mentions that the installation joints were finished on both sides. Here is why that matters. Expanding foam is damaged by UV light and moisture. Left exposed on the outside, it starts to crumble within a few seasons. Left open on the inside, it absorbs vapour from the room, and in winter condensation forms in the joint. So the outside of the joint gets a vapour-permeable protective layer and the inside gets a vapour barrier. On a balcony that will later be clad or painted, this is especially important: nobody will see a failed joint under the finish until mould shows through on the wall.
Why we chose Wintech for this balcony
Wintech profile is made by the Turkish ADO Group. We work with 15 profile brands, from budget Ukrainian systems to German REHAU and VEKA, and Wintech sits in our mid-range. For eVidnovlennia repairs it has a practical advantage: the price of the base series fits within the compensation limit.
Our program page states that compensation for uPVC windows is calculated at up to 5,400 UAH per square metre. Below are the Wintech series with prices from our website.
| Series | Chambers | Frame depth | Glass unit, mm | Price, UAH/m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wintech 530 | 3 | 58 mm | 24, 30, 32 | 5,000 |
| Wintech 640 | 4 | 60 mm | 24, 32 | 8,500 |
| Wintech 753 | 5 | 70 mm | 24, 32, 42 | 13,000 |
| Wintech 860 | 6 | 80 mm | 24, 32, 42 | 14,000 |
Beyond price, the profile has several things I value on balconies. U-shaped steel reinforcement 1.5 mm thick. TPV gaskets that stay flexible in frost. A calcium-zinc stabiliser instead of lead. According to the manufacturer, the profile withstands frosts down to −40 °C. On a high floor, where wind load is stronger, reinforcement matters more than the number of chambers.
For a cold balcony used for drying laundry and storing preserves, the 530 series is enough. If the balcony is insulated and joined to the room, we recommend the 640 or 753 with an energy-saving glass unit. We decide on the series together with the client at the measurement visit, taking the program estimate into account. All series and specifications are on the Wintech profile page.
The two sashes side by side open; the wide section between them is fixed.
How the eVidnovlennia payment worked
As of 2026, the process for the owner works like this. You apply in Diia, a commission inspects the home and sets the amount. The money goes onto a special eVidnovlennia card, and it can only be spent on building materials and work from registered program participants. VIKNODIM is a participant, so we accept the card directly.
On this order we sent the client a payment link, and she paid from her phone. Neither she nor we had to meet at the office for a signature or a receipt. After the repair, the owner reports the spending in Diia, and we provide the documents needed for that.
The full step-by-step process with program prices is on our eVidnovlennia page. If you are in Mykolaiv or the Mykolaiv region, see also our article on program repairs in Odesa and Mykolaiv.
When you do not need to replace the whole window
On Botanichnyi Lane the frames were broken, so there was only one option. But after a blast we often see a different picture: the frame is intact, and only the glass, the glass unit or the hardware is damaged. Then you do not need a new window, and the repair is faster.
| What you see | What we do | Program limit |
|---|---|---|
| A single pane cracked in a frame or door | Glass replacement, cut to your size | 850–1,000 UAH/m² |
| A glass unit broken or fogged inside | Glass unit replacement without changing the frame | up to 4,700 UAH/m² |
| A sash has dropped, will not close, or there is a draught | uPVC window repair and adjustment | per estimate |
| The frame is cracked or bent, anchors torn out | Full window replacement, as on this balcony | up to 5,400 UAH/m² |
The limits are taken from our program page. Our surveyor will give you the exact amount for your window after the inspection.
What to prepare before the surveyor arrives
- Photos of the damage taken right after the strike, before you started cleaning up.
- Your application number in Diia, if you have already filed it.
- Clear access to the windows: move furniture away and take down curtains.
- A list of what you want to change compared with the old windows: where you need an opening sash, where a mosquito screen, and whether you plan to insulate the balcony.
- If the opening is covered with plastic or OSB, leave it until the measurement visit; we will remove it ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
How long does window replacement under eVidnovlennia take?
Production takes about a week, and installing a balcony or a flat usually takes one working day. The longest stage is before the order: the commission inspection and estimate approval. On Botanichnyi Lane it took one week from approval to a finished balcony.
Do I have to come to the office to pay?
No. We send a payment link, and you pay from your phone with the eVidnovlennia card. We hand over the documents you need for your Diia report after installation.
Can I choose a profile other than Wintech?
Yes. We offer 15 profile brands, from Ukrainian WDS and NEO to REHAU, VEKA, Aluplast and Salamander. Wintech is convenient because its base series fits within the 5,400 UAH/m² compensation limit, but the final choice is yours.
What if only the glass broke and the frame is intact?
Then we keep the frame. We cut and fit new glass to size, or make a new glass unit for the same frame. It is faster and cheaper, and the program covers this work too.
Is there a warranty on windows installed under eVidnovlennia?
Yes, the same as on any of our orders. We sign a contract with every client, give a warranty on windows and installation, and service them afterwards.
Get in touch if you are in a similar situation
VIKNODIM has been working in Odesa for over 20 years. We cover Odesa and its suburbs up to and including Koblevo, and we also work in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. Call us, and we will tell you how to start your Diia application and when the surveyor can come.
Main office: Odesa, 4a Vladyslava Dombrovskoho (Zheliabova) St. Phone: 0 800 331 030, 096 533 34 30.
Kotovskoho settlement showroom: 2 Vladyslava Buvalkina St. Phone: 066 690 96 96.
Tap the photo to open the review on Google (in Ukrainian). More projects and prices at oknodom.com.ua
