Kharkiv residents protest construction of café near 1931 historic building (in photos)

UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Feb 10 — On Feb 8, Kharkiv locals gathered to protest against the construction of a café near the historic building called “Giant” (“Gigant” in Ukrainian), a dorm of the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, which was built in 1931 year. 

The watchdog organization for public procurement, the Kharkiv anti-corruption center, and Lyuk, Kharkiv’s local media, organized a demonstration, stating that the construction of a café on Skovorody St., 79, is unlawful. 

Gwara Media has been to the protest.

Protest against construction of the café in front of historic building called “Giant” in the Kharkiv center / Photo: Hnat Holyk, Gwara Media

Protest against construction of the café in front of historic building called “Giant” in the Kharkiv center. Protester’s sign, “It feels like the god punishes us for something” / Photo: Hnat Holyk, Gwara Media

Protest against construction of the café in front of a historic building called “Giant” in the Kharkiv center. Protesters’ sign, “Construct your ass” / Photo: Hnat Holyk, Gwara Media

Protest against construction of the café in front of historic building called “Giant” in the Kharkiv center. The sign on the left says, “Leave my Kharkiv for me.” / Photo: Hnat Holyk, Gwara Media

The dormitory, a modernist, constructivist building, is a local historic site.

“I think that we have to respect, value this heritage. Protect it and remember our history because people without history don’t have a future. Especially now, during [Russia’s] full-scale aggression against Ukrainian people,” said Andrii, a protester. 

Kateryna Kublytska, an architect, said that the construction violates the law because it’s too close to the dormitory, which, as a historic site, has to have a “secure radius” of 25 meters around it. 

The head of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, Yevhen Sokol, is also against the construction. 

The construction of the café on Skovorody St. started in 2023 by the owners of a gastropub called Zori but stopped after public pressure and the involvement of the Department of Inspection of Kharkiv City Council. 

According to the city council, currently, the developer has all necessary documents from the previous owner of construction on the area of 400m2, and that the documentation is currently being checked through by lawyers. 

The “Giant” was damaged during World War II and restored after 1949. 

Cover photo: Protest against construction of the café in front of historic building called “Giant” in the Kharkiv center / Hnat Holyk, Gwara Media

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