«Labor Reserves» Stadium with view on Kharkiv

A stadium that was started but never finished. A cemetery that was razed before it. And a panorama that locals still climb up to see, binoculars in hand.

The abandoned «Trudovi Rezervy» stadium on Lysa Hora (Bald Hill) is one of those places where an unfinished Soviet structure has quietly become an unofficial viewpoint with the best view in the city.

Location Card

What This Place Is and Why Come

This is not a tourist attraction with tickets and info boards — it’s a half-legend of Kharkiv that locals pass along «in secret.» The unfinished stadium on Lysa Hora is valued not for its architecture but for the view: from up here you can see almost the entire city spread out below you.

From a single vantage point the key districts fan out in every direction — from Oleksiivka to Novi Budynky, from the Central Market to the high-rise blocks of distant microdistricts. With binoculars or a telephoto lens you can even catch a rare angle where the bell towers of the Dormition Cathedral and the Annunciation Cathedral align in perfect symmetry.

Construction started in the 1980s and was never completed. Instead of stands packed with fans there is silence — and a panorama of a city of a million people.

History: Cemetery, Stadium, Abandoned Shell

This is a place with a heavy past. Before the stadium, the hill was occupied by the Kholodnohirske (Kuzynske) Cemetery, which had existed since the 1830s. Sometime in the mid-20th century — accounts vary between the 1950s and 1960s — it was demolished.

Construction of the «Trudovi Rezervy» stadium (the name refers to the Soviet sporting society for vocational-school students) began on the cleared site in the 1980s. The project was frozen before completion and the structure was never finished. Over the years it became a derelict ruin — and, simultaneously, a beloved local viewpoint.

Local Legends and Lore

A place built over a cemetery almost inevitably picks up ghost stories.

1. The Stadium Built on Bones

Kharkiv is well known for having many popular spots that were built over old cemeteries. «Trudovi Rezervy» is a classic example: visitors come to admire the view, often unaware they’re standing on a former burial ground. That awareness — once it arrives — tends to linger.

2. The Cursed Construction

The fact that the stadium was never finished is a detail local rumour loves to explain as proof of a «cursed» site. The more rational explanation — a change of era and a shortage of funds — is probably correct, but the legend of the «cursed unfinished stadium» is admittedly more compelling.

What to See and Do

The Kharkiv panorama. The main reason to come: a wide sweep of the city from one edge to the other.

Cathedral-spotting. With binoculars try to catch the moment when the bell towers of two cathedrals line up perfectly.

Sunset over the city. Evening light turns the panorama into a genuinely cinematic shot.

Getting There

By car. Head for the Lysa Hora area of Kharkiv. It’s best to walk the final stretch on foot.

By public transport. City buses serve the neighbourhood; from the stop it’s a walk up the hill to the viewpoint.

Come in daylight. The site is derelict and deserted, so visit during daylight hours and never alone.

Traveller’s Checklist

• Binoculars or zoom lens: the panorama reveals itself fully only with them.
• Sturdy footwear: there’s a climb and uneven ground.
• Daylight only: the site is isolated and dangerous after dark.
• Go with company: do not visit alone.

What NOT to do: climb the unstable concrete structures of the unfinished stadium, visit at night, or ignore air-raid alerts — Kharkiv remains a front-line city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the stadium abandoned?

Construction began in the 1980s on the site of a demolished cemetery but was never completed. The unfinished shell slowly fell into disrepair and became an informal viewpoint.

Is the view worth the trip?

Yes — the panorama is exactly why people come: you can see almost the entire city from here. Bring binoculars and visit in daylight for the best experience.

Is it safe to visit during the war?

Kharkiv is a front-line city where shelling is possible. The derelict structure itself is also a physical hazard. Visit only in daylight, with company, and keep an eye on air-raid alerts.

«Trudovi Rezervy» is a story about a city told through contradictions: a stadium that never became a stadium, a cemetery underfoot and the finest bird’s-eye view of Kharkiv you can find.

Come up in daylight, bring binoculars and take in the city from edge to edge. Just stay well clear of the crumbling concrete shells — the view is worth it; the risk is not.