Russian Military Attacks Velykyi Burluk: Historic Donets-Zakharzhevskyi Estate Damaged

On Tuesday, April 7, Russian military forces executed a drone attack on the town of Velykyi Burluk, located in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv region. This assault resulted in significant damage to the historic Donets-Zakharzhevskyi estate, which is regarded as an important architectural landmark from the 19th century. The incident has raised considerable concern among local residents and historians, as the estate holds substantial cultural significance for the region.

According to information provided by the State Emergency Service (SES) of Kharkiv, fire engulfed approximately 2,000 square meters of the two-story wooden building. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the fire; however, the extent of the damage has alarmed both residents and local authorities.

To combat the blaze, two operational units from the SES, along with a medical team and a community rescue officer, were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters worked diligently to salvage what remained of the historic estate, which once stood as a proud symbol of Velykyi Burluk.

The Donets-Zakharzhevskyi wooden estate has a rich historical context. The town of Velykyi Burluk was founded in the mid-17th century, and by the mid-18th century, the lands were owned by the prominent family of Slobozhanshchyna — the Donets-Zakharzhevskys. In 1784, at the invitation of Yakov Donets-Zakharzhevskyi, the renowned Ukrainian philosopher and poet Hryhorii Skovoroda visited the estate, underscoring the cultural importance of this location.

The estate, in its current form, was constructed in the 1820s on a stone foundation by Yakov Mykhailovych's son, Andrii Donets-Zakharzhevskyi, and was completed by his son-in-law, Voian Dmytrovych Zadonsky. The descendants of this family owned the estate until the revolution of 1917. The building was surrounded by a well-maintained park, a church, and featured stone gates that added to its unique charm.

Numerous legends and tales are associated with the estate's history. One such story involves the writer and collector of Slavic folklore, Yurii Myroliubov, who claimed that in 1919, Colonel Ali Izenbek of the Russian Volunteer Army discovered the Book of Veles in the looted estate. According to him, Izenbek stumbled upon this book while stationed in the Kursk or Oryol direction, during a time when Red bandits raided the estate.

However, scholars consider the Book of Veles to be a fabrication. Several examinations have confirmed that the “Izenbek tablets” are forgeries, and they reportedly disappeared during the Nazi occupation of Brussels, where Izenbek took them after his emigration. Thus, the estate's history and its legends continue to intrigue researchers and historians.

As of today, the Donets-Zakharzhevskyi palace was privately owned and used as a residential building. However, the attack by Russian military forces and the subsequent fire threaten not only this historic monument but also Ukraine's cultural heritage as a whole. Local residents and activists hope that efforts can be made to restore the estate and preserve it for future generations.