I think many people are aware that the current “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” was the first technical university in the Ukrainian provinces of the Russian Empire and the second technological institute in the Russian Empire.

However, the fact mentioned below is clearly known to only a handful of people… In a document from 1896, we find the following:

Just this year, we opened the first department of agricultural engineering at a higher technical educational institution (at the Kharkiv Technological Institute)…

From this, we can draw the most delightful conclusion: the very first department of agricultural engineering in the entire Russian Empire was established right here in Kharkiv. Although, I’m not really surprised… There are just too many “firsts” in Kharkiv. You can get used to it, but it’s impossible not to be delighted every time…