Kharkiv’s Nikolsky Shopping and Entertainment Center, heavily damaged by a Russian missile in 2022, has been fully restored and now stands as a symbol of resilience amid war, according to Mark Faithfull of the Robin Report. Despite opening just before the invasion, and facing destruction during Russia’s assault on the city, the mall was rebuilt in stages—offering not just retail and shelter, but hope and normalcy for residents. Completed by late 2023, its revival amid ongoing threats demonstrates the unbreakable spirit of Kharkiv and Ukraine at large. They write:
The Nikolsky Shopping and Entertainment Center is Kharkiv’s major mall, and its origin story and wartime rebirth tell one of the most remarkable stories of the brutal conflict in Ukraine. It remains a beacon of hope not just for residents in the besieged city, but for the world.
A Russian missile hit the mall’s roof, causing a fire on the fourth floor. It destroyed the ventilation chamber on the fifth floor and affected multiple other areas, including the dome, façade, climate systems, glass installations, and multimedia displays. Inside, the atrium supports collapsed, glass storefronts shattered, and interior decor spanning the second to fourth floors was heavily damaged.
A Mall Story
It was never an easy run for Nikolsky Shopping and Entertainment Center. The mall opened during the latter stages of the pandemic, which was challenging enough, but little could prepare Kyiv-based mall developer and owner Budhouse Group for what was ahead. Less than a year after opening, Ukraine would be invaded by Russia and shortly after that, the Kharkiv shopping center would be extensively damaged by a missile. […]
“Nikolsky is like a phoenix that rose from the ruins and began its new life,” Bushmakin said. “Today we can broadly say again, the footfall has returned to pre-war levels, and now we are showing record results again. First of all, this is not a marketing achievement. No, it is more than that. It is a human achievement.
“We believe that Nikolsky is not about walls. It is not about commerce. It is about people. It is about the residents of Kharkiv who returned home. It is about the tenants who risked reopening stores. It is about the team that worked in basements without lights,” he said. “We want this story to become not only the story of Nikolsky, Kyiv, Kharkiv or Ukraine, but also an example for the whole world. The impossible is possible if you have great people and faith behind you.”
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