On October 28, Russia attacked the central part of Kharkiv, destroying the historic building of the State Proms — a prominent example of constructivism and a contender for the UNESCO heritage list.
Around 21:00 a Russian air bomb KAB-500 hit the premises of Derzhprom, partially destroying several floors. Seven people were injured, Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov said.
Oleg Synegubov, head of Kharkiv Regional Police, clarified: “There are different categories of people among the wounded: from the policeman who was on duty to the people who passed by, around 21 o'clock, because this is the city center. It is a miracle that more people were not affected, because it is usually quite crowded in this place.”
“This building could not be destroyed by the Nazis during the Second World War, now the Russians are trying to destroy it,” Kharkiv police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko said. He noted that the plane bomb flew into the office of one of the judges of the economic court, which is located in the State Proms. “This is a civilian object, it has no military significance,” Tymoshko added.
As a result of the attack, not only Derzhprom, but also administrative buildings, a regional hospital and residential buildings were damaged, many of which had hundreds of windows knocked out.
Context and reaction
This is not the first blow to the State Prom. Earlier, in March 2022, an explosive wave from a strike on the regional administration building knocked out windows in the constructivist giant. In January 2024, the building's stained glass and glazing were again damaged in shelling nearby.
President Vladimir Zelensky reacted sharply to another attack: “Every handshake with the war criminal Putin gives him confidence. Instead of flirting with him, we should force him to make peace through collective determination.”
Derzhprom is not only an architectural symbol
Derzhprom is the largest constructivist building in the world and an important part of the architectural face of Kharkiv. Built in 1928, it is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city and has the status of an architectural monument. In September 2023, the international organization UNESCO added Kharkiv State Farm to the list of objects for enhanced protection. The building also claims to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Russian aggression endangers not only people's lives, but also Ukraine's cultural heritage on a daily basis.
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