A collectible 1987 Soviet postcard showcasing the industrial landscape of the Molodohvardiiska coal mine, operated by the Krasnodonugol production association in Krasnodon (now Sorokyne), Ukrainian SSR.
What is shown on the postcard
The postcard is divided into two sections. On the left, a close-up shows a fragment of a sculptural group—a monument to the members of the “Young Guard” underground organization, depicting a young man and woman in a heroic pose against a cloudy sky. The wider right side displays a panoramic view of the Molodohvardiiska mine. In the foreground is an entrance stele featuring a red five-pointed star, a miner’s relief profile, and the inscription “шахта Молодогвардейская”. A person stands near the stele on the roadside, and a light-colored passenger car is driving on the asphalt road. In the background, mine headframes, administrative buildings, and production facilities rise amidst green trees.
Historical note
The Molodohvardiiska coal mine was commissioned in 1970. Designed as a high-capacity and technologically advanced enterprise for its era, it focused on extracting coking coal. The mine, along with the nearby town of Molodohvardiisk, was named in honor of the “Young Guard” (Molodaya Gvardiya), a Soviet youth underground resistance group that operated in Krasnodon during World War II.
Present day
In the post-Soviet period, the enterprise became part of PJSC Krasnodonugol. It remained one of the key coking coal producers in the region. In 2016, as part of Ukraine’s decommunization, the city of Krasnodon was renamed back to its historical name, Sorokyne. However, due to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the mine’s current operations and status are controlled by unrecognized local authorities.
Location (map)
Address: Molodohvardiiska Mine, Sukhodilsk / Molodohvardiisk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates: 48.281389, 39.691111
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the Molodohvardiiska mine industrial site.
Questions and answers
- What year was this postcard published? The postcard was published in 1987.
- What is shown on the left side of the postcard? The left side features a close-up of a monument dedicated to the Young Guard underground resistance fighters.
- When did the Molodohvardiiska mine begin operations? The Molodohvardiiska coal mine was put into operation in 1970.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Sorokyne from 1987.
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