During the first months of the full-scale invasion, the Russians were actively destroying historic buildings in the center of Kharkiv. On March 2, 2022, there were fierce battles for the city. As a result of rocket fire, the Palace of Labor was significantly damaged. During the spring of 2022, the occupiers carried out an airstrike on the Maidan of the Constitution. In particular, they damaged the facades, windows and roof of the building
The Palace of Labor is an architectural monument of local importance. It was built in 1916 according to the project of the architect Hipolit Pretro. He specialized in modern architecture. In this project, Pretro combined modern style with neoclassicism. Initially, it was the profit house of the Insurance Company. There were also residential apartments in the building, which were rented for enormously expansive prices.
After the seizure of power, the Bolsheviks declared this building state property. Since 1920, the All-Ukrainian Council of Trade Unions, as well as the People’s Commissariat of Labor, have been based here. After that, the building received its modern name – the Palace of Labor.
Julia Hush
The publication was financed by the Internews Network and the NGO “INSTITUTE OF MASS INFORMATION” within the framework of the “Media Program in Ukraine” project
