Kharkiv

Some of the key events about Kharkiv

• 1654

  The city of Kharkiv was founded as a fortress to protect the southern borders of the Russian Empire
• 1805

  Kharkiv University, one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe, was established
• 1869

  The first railway line connecting Kharkiv to Moscow was opened
• 1919

  The city was captured by Bolshevik forces during the Ukrainian-Soviet War
• 1930

  The Kharkiv Tractor Plant, one of the largest in Europe, began production
• 1932

  Kharkiv suffered greatly during the Holodomor, a man-made famine that killed millions
• 1935

  The Kharkiv Metro, the second oldest in Ukraine, started operations
• 1940

  The Kharkiv Aviation Institute was founded, becoming a leading aerospace education center
• 1941

  Nazi Germany occupied Kharkiv during World War II
• 1942

  Tens of thousands of Jews were murdered in the Drobytsky Yar massacre
• 1943

  The city was severely damaged during four battles between Soviet and German forces
• 1975

  The Kharkiv State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater opened its new modern building
• 1995

  A major fire destroyed the Kharkiv Opera and Ballet Theater
• 1996

  Kharkiv hosted the European Weightlifting Championships
• 2010

  Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv was renovated to host UEFA Euro 2012 matches
• 2014

  Pro-Russian protests and clashes occurred in the city during the Ukrainian revolution
• 2015

  A bomb explosion at a rally in Kharkiv killed four people and injured many others
• 2017

  Kharkiv hosted the 2017 World Fencing Championships
• 2022

  Russian forces heavily shelled and partially occupied Kharkiv during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• 2023

  Continued Russian missile and drone attacks caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.