Hotel “Ukraine” in Luhansk
In 1944, the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk was liberated from the Nazi invaders. Right after that, the hotel construction began, which was meant to become a real city landmark. In 1952, when construction was completed, it became clear that the plan had worked – the facility was truly impressive.
Its red facade was decorated with a specific mosaic ornament and contrasting white brick pilasters along all 5 floors. Such decoration visually transformed the wall into a carpet in line with the artistic traditions that the architect observed in Podilla in his childhood.
This architect was the outstanding Yosyp Karakis, designer of many notable buildings both in Ukraine and other Soviet republics. He was initially praised for this new building in Luhansk, but within a year the original facade of the hotel started to cause problems.
Karakis was accused of “criminal neglect of the party's leading ideas” and “implementing Ukrainian bourgeois nationalism.” He refused to repent and thus was fired and deprived of the right to teach. The name of Yosyp Karakis, who built dozens of landmark buildings, was deleted from reference books and textbooks.
The hotel itself continued to attract attention and impress, and everyone who came to Luhansk dreamed of staying in one of its 173 rooms. In the times of independent Ukraine, it was the only four-star hotel in the city. However, in 2014, Luhansk was taken over by pro-Russian militants. Since then, the unique building has been in a continuously dilapidating state.
80 years ago, this hotel was built after the invaders were forced out. There is no doubt that the new invaders will flee the city someday, and both “Ukraine” and Ukraine will return to Luhansk.
Boris Stepanenko
Boris Stepanenko - DJ, musician. Born and lives in Kyiv. He works in the Kyiv art center/club Closer, co-founder of the ABO music space.