As for mid-1980s the task of complete replacement of old rolling stock with articulated trolleybuses on the busiest routes was vital. The main reason was with 9Tr that were replaced with 14Tr by piecemeal, meaning that number of trolleybus trains decreased. In 1987, there were 152 trains citywide and in 1988 that number dropped to 108. It was obvious that times of trolleybus trains were coming to an end. Another important reason was that trolleybuses reached remote huge housing estates as well as big plans on network development requiring more vehicles. In 1986 Kiev got first serial articulated trolleybuses DAC-217Е. As always with new technique, there were too many problems, which caused certain pause in their delivery. However, there were not so many alternatives as the Škoda-Ostrov factory had designed an articulated model based on the 14Tr only in 1983.

In 1987 Kiev ordered an experimental specimen for tests. The trolleybus got the number 03 and was assigned to Depot No. 2, from where it ran in November and December on couple of routes without passengers. This vehicle had a few advantages over the DAC-217E. Subjectively, the 15Tr was distinct due to its electrical equipment, completely unified with the latest 14Tr's, which had been already well studied in Kiev. Objectively, the presence of two powered axles, each with its own 100-kW motor, became a big advantage on lines with a difficult profile, where DAC-217E's could not hold on to the road surface well enough and would often skidded on steep ascents.

By 1987 the factory had produced about 70 serial articulated vehicles, all destined for the USSR. However, they were considered to be too expensive and it was counted on Romanian vehicles, especially taking into account that producer secured certain improvements. During 1988-1989 about 200 DAC-217E were delivered to Kiev but they quickly showed unsuitability to route 18. For this reason the attention was again drawn on Škoda articulated vehicles with first batch (fleet numbers 450-458) was delivered to Kiev in August 1990 to Depot No. 4. A total of 27 were in service at the end of a year; however, that was not enough to fully supply route 18.

After Depot No. 4 was disbanded, all 15Tr (at that time one vehicle was already withdrawn) were transferred to Depot No. 2. The remaining 19 were delivered during 1994-1995, after money had been allocated (although they had been manufactured much earlier). They were all assigned to Depot No. 2, and the majority still continues to be in service. After LAZ-301 entered the service partially replacing 15Tr on route 18, the latter can now be seen virtually on all routes of depot 2. However, still the majority of pictures in gallery are taken along the route 18 as one of the most picturesque