Players spoke with a representative of the Minecraft community BTE Ukraine, known by the nickname KievPikachu, who is involved in rebuilding Ukrainian cities in the game.
Tell us a bit about yourself: how did you end up in BTE Ukraine and what role do you play in the project now?
I don’t even remember where I first saw information about BTE, but I first learned about the project in 2020, and I became a builder in June 2024 when I purchased a license. Now I am one of the team leaders — one of the three main leaders on the Ukraine server.
What are your daily responsibilities as a BTE Ukraine manager?
I mainly handle new player applications, help beginner builders on the server, and manage the Discord server administration. I also build various structures in Kyiv.
What real-life skills help you the most in managing a Minecraft project?
In real life, I’m an architect, so I understand how city and building construction works. That’s why I decided to build on the server — I’ve been playing Minecraft since 2012. I’ve also always enjoyed setting up and administrating groups and channels on social media for my friends.
Did you have any community or project management experience before BTE?
Not significant experience. Only school experience — I was the school president and participated in district-level student self-government.
What was the most challenging moment for you in BTE Ukraine as a manager?
There wasn’t anything extremely difficult. Our server isn’t very large or highly active — it runs on trust among builders. Probably the hardest part was creating guides, although I did that more or less voluntarily.
What, on the contrary, motivated you the most to keep going?
Player activity. I really love when new buildings appear.
How do you explain BTE Ukraine to someone with no context?
It’s a server where we build Ukraine in Minecraft at a 1:1 scale. My friends know about Minecraft, and the very fact of rebuilding something real already impresses them.
When and with what idea was the global Build The Earth project created?
The project was created in 2020 to rebuild the entire Earth at a 1:1 scale in Minecraft.
How does BTE Minecraft operate worldwide?
Players voluntarily build the world on different regional servers in teams. Some teams represent individual countries, others represent multiple countries or regions. Most large servers operate either at their own expense or through sponsors.
What is BTE’s main goal as a global initiative?
Building the Earth. It’s almost an endless goal because fully completing the Earth is nearly impossible. Overall, it’s done for interest and fun.
Is there an “end point” in BTE, or is it an endless process?
An end point is only hypothetical — if every piece of land were actually built. But less than one percent has been built so far, so it’s almost impossible.
How realistic is it to “rebuild the whole world” in Minecraft?
I think it’s unrealistic. It would require far more resources, more builders from the most remote parts of the world, more cartographic data for remote areas, etc.
What is more important for BTE: technical accuracy or symbolism?
Some teams value extreme literal accuracy. In the Ukrainian team, we follow a middle ground. Where there is no data, we build approximately, but we strictly follow satellite imagery.
When did the idea of creating BTE Ukraine appear?
I wasn’t involved at that time, but as I was told, BTE Ukraine appeared almost at the beginning of the project, then quickly joined the larger BTE TeamCIS server for all CIS countries. The current team separated in 2022 due to well-known events.
When did active rebuilding of Ukraine begin within BTE?
Development progressed gradually. Some cities started being actively built as early as 2020.
Who stood at the origins of BTE Ukraine?
Chelsea, renardykt, and Brigart.
How was the first team of Ukrainian builders formed?
There wasn’t a formal “team formation.” People constantly come and go. Everyone builds what they want and sets their own tasks. At the time of separation, the most active players were Chelsea, v4siv_, AloneBown, Av1ks, aetheer, sixrombs, Essen, Neverhoods, darkantos, and others. Currently active players include me (KievPikachu), ruwboll, hhxupix, Mashenist. Others log in less often or joined recently. Usually, a person joins, applies, builds their city for some time, then burns out or life circumstances (study, work) intervene, and they stop logging in. We’re always very happy when people return and continue building.
Which cities or regions did it start with?
The first city built was Poltava — it is still the largest. Mariupol, Lviv, Ternopil, and Pripyat were also started early on.
What challenges did you face at the beginning?
Initially, everyone built using automatically generated terrain and outlines from the BTE generation plugin. Later it turned out that the terrain and outlines didn’t match reality in Ukraine. European countries and the U.S. have more accurate terrain data; other regions have less precise data. So we had to rebuild many structures and create more accurate terrain. And of course, there’s always a shortage of active and skilled builders.
Did it feel like “just fun,” or was it something more from the beginning?
For everyone, it was both fun and a way to explore their own cities, Ukrainian landmarks, and geography in general.
What did rebuilding Ukraine in Minecraft look like before 2022?
More or less like now, except we were more connected with TeamCIS and their events. That had pros and cons. Events and a shared server helped attract more people to build in Ukraine (for example, a builder of Pripyat from Russia), but some builders also participated in events in other countries.
Which cities or projects were the most active before the war?
Poltava and Mariupol.
Was there a clear development strategy for BTE Ukraine at that time?
No. We were part of TeamCIS and followed common guidelines and held events together.
How did the community perceive the Ukrainian direction before the war?
It wasn’t very prioritized due to limited activity. It was seen as part of the larger CIS region. Poltava was one of the most developed cities.
What changed for BTE Ukraine after February 24, 2022?
Online activity dropped significantly for some time. Later, activity returned. The most important change was the separation from TeamCIS. It didn’t happen without conflicts. Some players from occupied territories left the project; others consciously focused on developing the Ukrainian team.
Was there ever a moment when you wanted to pause the project?
No. Someone always comes and builds something. And it helps that we’re part of a bigger global project.
How did the war affect team and community motivation?
For some negatively — some veteran players left after the full-scale invasion, though not always because of the war. Some players build from abroad, where it’s somewhat easier due to more available time, electricity, etc.
Has the global BTE community’s attitude toward Ukraine changed?
Yes, more attention was given to Ukraine. However, due to limited activity, interest gradually fades.
How do you handle the ethical issue of rebuilding destroyed cities in the game?
All cities that were in active combat zones are built as they existed before 2022. This is partly due to lack of data from occupied territories and partly due to the desire to preserve their peaceful state.
Has BTE Ukraine become a way for someone to emotionally process the war?
Probably the hardest for Av1ks, who builds his hometown Mariupol. During the war, he was under occupation and had to leave the country. He took a strong pro-Ukrainian stance and continued rebuilding the city in Minecraft, especially during the first years after emigrating.
What is the main mission of BTE Ukraine today?
To build Ukraine in Minecraft. That’s the main thing. Everything else is secondary — for some people it’s a way to see their hometown in the game; for some emigrants, it’s practically the only way to see their country.
Who is this project for: players, Ukrainians, the world?
For everyone at the same time.
What do you want people to feel when they join the BTE Ukraine server?
Surprise, nostalgia, and interest in exploring the country.
What can BTE Ukraine be proud of?
Every interesting object. The better it’s built, the greater the pride. The main highlights are Pripyat (almost fully built), Poltava (many districts completed), Mariupol, Obolon in Kyiv, and other notable places.
What was the hardest to recreate?
Pripyat and Poltava due to their scale and detail, and Kyiv’s terrain due to the difficulty of finding topographic surveys and transferring them into the game.
Can this be considered a form of digital memory of Ukraine?
Yes.
When do you think BTE Ukraine will be able to “finish” all of Ukraine?
Most likely in several hundred years at minimum — if the project is still alive by then. In reality, it’s almost impossible.
Is it even possible for Ukraine in Minecraft to be fully completed?
Technically yes, but not in our lifetime.
Will BTE Minecraft ever rebuild the entire world?
Possibly, if enough cartographic data and some automation methods for high-quality construction appear.
If not — why does it still make sense?
Because it’s interesting. In fact, this is the most exciting time — you can rebuild something truly famous or your own neighborhood if no one has built it yet.
How do you see BTE Ukraine in 5–10 years?
About the same as now. Team ownership may change, game versions will change, most current builders probably won’t remain active. But the project will continue and grow with new buildings.
What would you say to people who think Minecraft is “just a game”?
It really is “just a game,” but it gives you the opportunity to do incredible things.