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Travel

The truth behind Ukraine’s giant abandoned space-age saucer

Updated 5:11 AM EDT, Mon August 5, 2019
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<strong>Bus cemetery:</strong> This former bustling bus depot, which resembles a giant flying saucer, has been left abandoned for several years on the outskirts of Kiev.
Bus cemetery: This former bustling bus depot, which resembles a giant flying saucer, has been left abandoned for several years on the outskirts of Kiev.
Oleg Totskiy
<strong>Forgotten depot: </strong>Designed by Moscow-based designer V. Zinkevic, the innovative building served as an important hub for the Ukrainian capital's international, domestic and city routes.
Forgotten depot: Designed by Moscow-based designer V. Zinkevic, the innovative building served as an important hub for the Ukrainian capital's international, domestic and city routes.
Oleg Totskiy
<strong>Innovative structure:</strong> Known as the "circus," it was the only bus park in the Soviet Union with a covered section.
Innovative structure: Known as the "circus," it was the only bus park in the Soviet Union with a covered section.
Eduard Kryzhanovsky
<strong>Rotting away: </strong>Hordes of LAZ, Volvo and Ikarus vehicles, many in a half-ruined, decayed state, still occupy the garage.
Rotting away: Hordes of LAZ, Volvo and Ikarus vehicles, many in a half-ruined, decayed state, still occupy the garage.
Oleg Totskiy
<strong>Evacuation mission:</strong> In the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, buses from the Kiev garage were drafted in to help evacuate residents. Some were abandoned in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone after they became heavily contaminated with radiation.
Evacuation mission: In the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, buses from the Kiev garage were drafted in to help evacuate residents. Some were abandoned in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone after they became heavily contaminated with radiation.
Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
<strong>Architectural heritage: </strong>When it opened in 1973, bus park number 7 was considered to be the most innovative structure of its kind in the whole Soviet Union.
Architectural heritage: When it opened in 1973, bus park number 7 was considered to be the most innovative structure of its kind in the whole Soviet Union.
Pavlo Fedykovych / Kyivpastrans
<strong>Former glory: </strong>"The construction lasted eight years. It was the most beautiful bus park in Ukraine and Europe at the time," says a former employee, who worked at the site for 30 years.
Former glory: "The construction lasted eight years. It was the most beautiful bus park in Ukraine and Europe at the time," says a former employee, who worked at the site for 30 years.
Pavlo Fedykovych / Kyivpastrans
<strong>Sharp decline: </strong>The Soviet Union collapse in 1991 proved to be the beginning of the end for bus garage, and it eventually closed in 2015.
Sharp decline: The Soviet Union collapse in 1991 proved to be the beginning of the end for bus garage, and it eventually closed in 2015.
Pavlo Fedykovych
<strong>Impressive view:</strong> While Number 7 is an imposing sight from most angles, its particularly striking when seen from a height.
Impressive view: While Number 7 is an imposing sight from most angles, its particularly striking when seen from a height.
Pavlo Fedykovych
<strong>Derelict site:</strong> Nature has definitely taken its toll on the structure, but it remains one of the most impressive examples of Soviet Modernism.
Derelict site: Nature has definitely taken its toll on the structure, but it remains one of the most impressive examples of Soviet Modernism.
Pavlo Fedykovych
<strong>Rescue mission:</strong> In 2018, a petition was launched requesting the Kiev City Council transform it into a museum of public transport.
Rescue mission: In 2018, a petition was launched requesting the Kiev City Council transform it into a museum of public transport.
Pavlo Fedykovych
<strong>Defeated prospects: </strong>Although the appeal gathered the necessary 10,000 signatures, it was ultimately unsuccessful.
Defeated prospects: Although the appeal gathered the necessary 10,000 signatures, it was ultimately unsuccessful.
Oleg Totskiy
<strong>Main entrance: </strong>The building lies on the eastern outskirts of the Ukranian capital.
Main entrance: The building lies on the eastern outskirts of the Ukranian capital.
Pavlo Fedykovych
<strong>Stark reminder:</strong> Preserving Soviet heritage is a controversial topic in a country that suffered tremendously under communist rule.
Stark reminder: Preserving Soviet heritage is a controversial topic in a country that suffered tremendously under communist rule.
Pavlo Fedykovych
<strong>Modernist architecture:</strong> The Faculty of Physics Department at the National University of Kiev is another of the various modernist buildings that can be found in the Ukrainian capital.
Modernist architecture: The Faculty of Physics Department at the National University of Kiev is another of the various modernist buildings that can be found in the Ukrainian capital.
Pavlo Fedykovych
<strong>Bright hopes: </strong>The bizarrely shaped Salute Hotel, which has been dubbed "the grenade," was built by architect Abraham Miletsky in 1984. <br />
Bright hopes: The bizarrely shaped Salute Hotel, which has been dubbed "the grenade," was built by architect Abraham Miletsky in 1984.
Pavlo Fedykovych
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