Derzhprom, Svoboda Square, a dry fountain in Kharkiv: consequences of the night shelling by Russia

An air strike near the Derzhprom building in Kharkiv at around 03:30 on 8 November blew out windows and stained glass windows. The damage is currently being assessed. No one was inside the building at the time of the incident, except for security guards. This was reported by the deputy head of the DIA, Yevhen Ivanov, in a commentary for Suspilne Kharkiv.

‘The calculation of losses and damage will continue for at least another day, or even longer. Of course, it is the glazing of the building. And the glass, the windows here are not simple. They are made in accordance with the standards that this building must meet. The Derzhprom building is a UNESCO cultural heritage and not all windows can be installed here, they are not cheap. We are negotiating the transfer of people who have worked and cannot work now because there are no windows, to more intact parts of the building or to other buildings,’ Ivanov said.

On Svobody Square in Kharkiv, panoramic windows, in particular on the staircase, were severely damaged after the night air strike on 8 November, making it difficult to keep the building warm.

Ivanov also said that after the previous damage to Derzhprom on 28 October, an initial conversation with UNESCO representatives had already taken place.

‘But now we are counting the damage to the building. As soon as we get the specific figures, the specific damage, we will contact the highest level of UNESCO, the UN, international partners, and work with the specific damage caused, asking for help to restore the facility. Perhaps we will look for donors who can help in this matter,’ Ivanov explained.

The bomb, dropped by Russian aviation at around 03:00 on 8 November, hit a flower bed between the State Industry building and the Karazin University building on Svobody Square, not far from the ‘dry’ fountain.

‘The bomb hit the ground between the university buildings, smashing the windows of the Derzhprom building. The fountain was not damaged, but the New Year’s decorations, which were installed only yesterday, were damaged,’ said Mayor Igor Terekhov.

In the morning, the municipal services began to repair the damage.

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