This 1987 Soviet postcard depicts the “Moloda Hvardiya” (Young Guard) Palace of Culture in the city of Krasnodon (now Sorokyne), Voroshylovhrad (now Luhansk) Oblast, Ukrainian SSR.
What is shown on the postcard
In the foreground, a spacious paved square is shown with pedestrians walking across it. To the right stands a monument to Vladimir Lenin on a high granite pedestal. The main architectural landmark is the Palace of Culture building, designed in the Stalinist Empire style with a massive portico, a Corinthian colonnade, a triangular pediment with sculptural reliefs, and an adjacent corner tower topped with a spire.
Red banners with Soviet slogans are attached to the facade. An administrative building is visible in the background on the left, and the surrounding area is decorated with evergreen spruce trees and neat shrubbery.
Historical note
The “Moloda Hvardiya” Palace of Culture was officially opened in 1958. It became the primary cultural and leisure hub for the mining city. The architectural design blended classical orders with decorative elements of Soviet symbolism.
The square in front of the Palace traditionally served as the main public space of Krasnodon, hosting city rallies, demonstrations, and community celebrations.
Present day
In the post-Soviet period, the Palace of Culture retained its status as the center of social and creative life in the city. As part of Ukraine’s decommunization laws in 2016, the city of Krasnodon was officially renamed Sorokyne. The monument to Lenin in front of the building was dismantled.
Since 2014, the city has been under the de facto control of the self-proclaimed LPR and subsequently Russia, which limits the local implementation of the new Ukrainian toponyms. The Palace of Culture continues to operate as a community center.
Location (map)
Address: 1 Molodohvardiytsiv Square, Sorokyne, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates: 48.300588, 39.736675
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Google Maps cartographic data and historical directories of Sorokyne (Krasnodon).
Questions and answers
- When was the Palace of Culture in Krasnodon built? The “Moloda Hvardiya” Palace of Culture was officially opened in 1958.
- What are the architectural features of the building on the postcard? The building is designed in the Stalinist Empire style, featuring a massive portico, a Corinthian colonnade, a triangular pediment with reliefs, and an adjacent corner tower with a spire.
- What is the modern name of the city of Krasnodon? In 2016, as part of Ukraine’s decommunization, the city was officially renamed Sorokyne by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Sorokyne from 1987.
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