Russia destroyed everything: what the architecture of Bakhmut looked like over a century ago. Photos

Bakhmut, a city with a rich history dating back to the 16th century, has evolved from a border guard to an important industrial and cultural center of Ukraine and later became a symbol of steadfastness in the war against Russian aggression.

On August 1, 2022, the battle for Bakhmut began. The city was destroyed by the Russian army, which mercilessly hit buildings and structures with missiles, fired from tanks, and attacked with aircraft.

Local historian from Bakhmut Yevhen Yarkin showed old photographs of the city, showing how it was more than a century ago. OBOZ.UA offers to view historical photos of Bakhmut and learn more about the history of the city.

Who founded the city of Bakhmut

The history of Bakhmut dates back to 1571 when border guards were established on the border between the Moscow state and the Crimean Khanate. They were guarded by "Sevriuks" – Cossacks from Putyvl and Rylsk. Written sources mention the Bakhmut guard.

In the seventeenth century, Cossack O. Biriukov discovered salt lakes near the Bakhmut River, which contributed to the development of the salt industry. Thousands of salt workers came here, mostly from Sloboda Ukraine, and the Don. In 1701, the residents of the Bakhmut Sloboda built a wooden fortress in the center of the modern city.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Bakhmut became one of the centers of the Kindrat Bulavin uprising. After the uprising was suppressed, the fortress was destroyed, but later restored and fortified. In 1783, Bakhmut became the center of the county and an important center of the salt industry in southeastern Ukraine. Salt even became an element of the city's coat of arms.

After the abolition of serfdom in the nineteenth century, Bakhmut began to develop actively in industry, including salt mining, brick making, and flour milling. Railroads were built, which contributed to the city's economic growth. Local government was also formed during this period.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Bakhmut became not only an industrial but also a cultural center. Parks, theaters, cinemas, a music school, gymnasiums, and printing houses appeared in the city. Local newspapers and magazines were published, and works by famous Ukrainian writers were published.

In November 1917, the Ukrainian national flag was raised over Bakhmut for the first time in the Donetsk region. During the Ukrainian Revolution, the city was part of various state formations, and at the end of 1919, Soviet rule was finally established here.

When Artemivsk became Bakhmut

In 1924, Bakhmut was renamed Artemivsk in honor of the Soviet figure Artem (F. A. Sergeev). In the 1930s, the town survived the Holodomor and Stalinist repressions. During the Second World War, Artemivsk was occupied by Nazi troops and suffered significant destruction.

In the postwar years, industrial production resumed in Artemivsk, and new enterprises were built, including a champagne factory. The social sphere was developing, with new schools, kindergartens, and cultural institutions appearing.

During the 1991 referendum, the majority of Artemivsk residents supported Ukraine's independence. In 2014, the city was at the epicenter of the Russian-Ukrainian war. After being liberated from pro-Russian militants in 2015, the city was returned to its historical name of Bakhmut.

Before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Bakhmut was a developed industrial and cultural center. It was home to a variety of businesses, including a famous champagne factory. The city was also famous for its cultural traditions and institutions.

In 2022, Bakhmut became one of the hottest spots of the Russian-Ukrainian war, a symbol of the heroic resistance of Ukrainian defenders. The city was almost completely destroyed as a result of fierce fighting. The history of Bakhmut continues, and its future is closely linked to Ukraine's struggle for independence.

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