Russian Strike Damages Kharkiv's Historic Derzhprom Building, Highlighting Ukraine's Avant-Garde Legacy
In late October, a Russian missile hit the Derzhprom building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, inflicting significant damage. This structure, which was designed in 1925 and inaugurated in 1928, previously held the title of Europe's tallest office building and has been included on UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage Status since 2022. Remarkably, it withstood Nazi destruction attempts 80 years ago. Kharkiv served as Ukraine's capital from 1919 to 1934, nurturing an avant-garde movement that included notable figures like Mykhailo Boychuk and Oleksandr Dovhzhenko, many of whom perished in the 1930s. The Korenizatsiya policy of the 1920s encouraged local languages but was later reversed by Stalin. This incident underscores the ongoing threat to cultural heritage amid rising imperialism.
Key facts
- Derzhprom, a Constructivist building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, was hit by a Russian rocket in late October 2024.
- The building was designed in 1925 and opened in 1928 as the headquarters of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
- It was on UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage Status since 2022.
- Kharkiv was Ukraine's capital from 1919 to 1934, fostering a unique avant-garde movement.
- Architects Sergei Serafimov, Mark Felger, and Samuil Kravets designed Derzhprom.
- The building survived Nazi destruction attempts 80 years ago.
- Many Ukrainian avant-garde figures were killed or died by suicide in the 1930s.
- The attack coincides with broader targeting of historical monuments in conflicts like those in Lebanon and Gaza.
Entities
Artists
- Owen Hatherley
- Sergei Serafimov
- Mark Felger
- Samuil Kravets
- Mykola Skrypnyk
- Mykhailo Boychuk
- Vasyl Yermilov
- Mykola Khvylovy
- Mykhailo Semenko
- Oleksandr Dovhzhenko
- Les Kurbas
- Dziga Vertov
- Kasimir Malevich
Institutions
- UNESCO
- Royal Academy
- Israel Defence Forces
- Congress of the Toilers of the East
Locations
- Kharkiv
- Ukraine
- Freedom Square
- Odesa
- Vilnius
- Lithuania
- Moscow
- Russia
- Baalbek
- Lebanon
- Gaza City
- Baku
- China
- Indonesia
- India
- Kyiv
- New Belgrade
- University of Leeds