Northern Saltivka: Kharkiv’s war ravaged ghost town

Northern Saltivka: Life in Kharkiv’s Destroyed District

Northern Saltivka, a residential district in Kharkiv, was once full of life—modern apartment buildings, families walking in the parks, and shops on every corner. Today, it stands as one of the most bombed-out neighborhoods in Ukraine.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Kharkiv, being just 40 kilometers from the Russian border, became an immediate target. Northern Saltivka, situated on the city’s northern edge, absorbed much of the early shelling.

Apartment blocks were turned into hollowed-out skeletons. Windows shattered, stairwells collapsed, and playgrounds were buried in debris. Residents were forced into shelters for weeks. Some escaped the district entirely; others, particularly the elderly, stayed behind—either unable or unwilling to leave.

Despite the destruction, a handful of residents have returned. In some buildings, makeshift repairs are visible: plastic sheeting in place of windows, patched-up staircases, and small gardens slowly sprouting from abandoned courtyards. These quiet acts of resilience reflect the enduring spirit of those who call Saltivka home.

“The walls are cracked, but my home is still standing,” says Halyna, 72, who returned to her apartment in early 2023. “If we all leave, there will be nothing left of this city.”

The district remains dangerous. Russian missiles and artillery still occasionally target Kharkiv. But reconstruction efforts are visible. NGOs and municipal crews have begun clearing rubble and restoring basic infrastructure, though many buildings are still beyond repair.

For many Ukrainians, Northern Saltivka symbolizes the human cost of the war. It is not a military base or strategic asset—it is a neighborhood of civilians, now scarred by years of relentless attacks. The ongoing efforts to rebuild reflect a national determination to reclaim what was lost—not just buildings, but dignity and normal life.

The war in Ukraine is not confined to battlefields. Places like Northern Saltivka remind us that ordinary lives, homes, and communities are at the heart of this struggle.

The most famous building here, a 16-story apartment building, on the street Natalia Uzhviy 82, was hit by an aerial bomb.

Northern Saltivka in Kharkiv resembles a ghost town

In February, this neighborhood was the first to sustain a heavy blow from russian.

It has been subjected to massive bombardment with heavy artillery and aerial bombing.

Near the ring road, this area came under direct hits from shelling, and is now total ruins.

In peacetime, this area was the youngest and most densely populated.

It was home to about 300,000 people. Now it is deserted.

Today, Northern Saltivka is the most destroyed part of Kharkiv.

70% of residential buildings are unfit for life.

In Autumn, the Northern Saltivka began rebuilding. Builders are working on more than fifty residential structures simultaneously.

In total, they plan to restore 67 residential buildings damaged by russians.