Kharkiv under the shadow of war: trials, willpower and resistance

Today, Kharkiv, disfigured by the war, evokes memories from movies about the end of the world, where people try to survive in difficult conditions and build a new life among the ruins of buildings. Kharkiv in the conditions of war and before the events of February 24, 2022 – these are two different cities. In the first months of the full-scale invasion, 600,000 people left Kharkiv. In the spring of 2022, the city was home to 300,000 people who hid from bombardments every day in bomb shelters.

How does Kharkiv live during the war?

As a result of enemy attacks in the city, as of the end of 2023, 5 thousand houses were destroyed. About 10% of these buildings cannot be restored. According to preliminary data, 150,000 people no longer have a roof over their heads, and the total damage is estimated at 9.5 billion dollars. However, today Kharkiv and its brave residents do not give up and return to their homes, open new businesses, and help in the restoration of their homeland.

Northern Saltivka is one of the largest districts of the city, where hundreds of thousands of people lived before the enemy invasion. Today, this place resembles a fire. All possible methods were used to save residents: evacuation trains, buses, rental cars, as well as the help of volunteers.

In the event of a repeated blackout in the city, more than 1,100 invincibility points are ready to work at the same time. These are shops, gas stations, catering establishments and schools.

Exciting historical sights of Kharkiv

Freedom Square is one of the largest in Europe (6th place) and the world (12th place) and covers an area of about 12 hectares. It offers a wonderful view of the first skyscraper in the Soviet Union and the National University named after V. N. Karazina. In 2005, a monument to the heroes of the novel "12 Chairs" was erected in the city. at the entrance of a famous restaurant. Today, fans of Ilf and Petrov's works enthusiastically take pictures against the background of the statues of Ostap Bendera, Ippolit Vorob’yaninov or Elochka the cannibal.

However, landmarks of Kharkiv – it is also about cathedrals. The Church of the Annunciation is one of the oldest buildings that saw the birth of the city. The height of the main bell tower is 80 meters, which makes the cathedral almost the tallest building. The temple is made in an exquisite Byzantine style. In addition to this cathedral, there are also such popular historical monuments of Kharkiv:

• The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God;
• Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
• Ozeryansk church.

Exhibition of the "Lilac" gallery; offers to get acquainted not only with the canvases of famous artists, but also with photographs, works of decorative and applied art, rare handmade dolls and many others.

Sights of Kharkiv – it is not only architecture, but also interesting cultural and entertainment places. Currently there are more than 20 special museums. It is very difficult to visit all of them quickly, because they are scattered in different parts of the city, so car rental in Kharkiv will be a great solution.

There is an unusual museum in the city, the exposition of which is entirely devoted to coffee. Here you can learn everything about the origin of coffee, the peculiarities of growing coffee beans, varieties and the attitude of different peoples of the world to this drink at different times.