The ruins of the Olympia Hotel and Kharkiv’s Podil neighborhood

In early 2016, the remains of the “Olympia” Hotel and other abandoned buildings on Lopatins’kyi Lane were demolished. Everything has its time, but people have the power to make time stand still and preserve what their ancestors built.

13002326_1681250948758909_3440553530455315353_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

Alas, this no longer applies to Kharkiv’s Podil—this corner of Kharkiv is dying. Abandoned, dilapidated buildings can be found practically every other house, even though the district isessentially an untouched snapshot of our city from the second half of the 19th century.

12973496_1681250932092244_3782025920823614674_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

But, unlike Moskalivka, there are just as many abandoned houses here as there are fewer people. If you visit Podil on a weekend, you’ll encounter more stray cats than residents.

13029541_1681250985425572_70794320521438113_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

Podil is slowly dying, and houses without human care die just as quickly as plants without water.

12957639_1681251012092236_3579537691822676549_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

Fires, vandals, and those who simply like to strip historic buildings for building materials complete the demise of these abandoned structures.

12967495_1681251015425569_4932632299041400380_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

12970867_1681251045425566_6853558512440563769_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

13029716_1681251115425559_8365260041775631598_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

13002596_1681251075425563_8007841298049939822_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

13029407_1681251098758894_2524641037893122477_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

13029578_1681251128758891_2962718754863776028_o — ^{Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}