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DONETSK HIGHLANDS ARCHIVE
Coming Soon: English Translation
The English version of the digital archive is currently in active development. Our team is working hard to ensure all historical records and materials are accurately translated.
Thank you for your patience!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
VOLUNTEER`S DIGITAL ARCHIVE
About the project
“The Donetsk Highlands Archive” is more than just a repository of files. It is a space where we piece together the fragmented identity of our region—from its Cossack origins to its industrial heyday, from the quaint streets of Bakhmut to the indomitable city of Mariupol. We document the past to lay the foundation for the future.
TIMELINE
FROM THE WILD FIELD TO THE DIGITAL ARCHIVE
Timeline of key events in Donetsk Oblast
17th–18th Centuries | Cossack Freedom
The Donetsk region was not uninhabited. These were the lands of the Kalmius Palanka of the Zaporozhian Host. The salt mines of Tor and Bakhmut became the region’s first economic centers.

The establishment of a guard post on the Tor River (modern-day Sloviansk) and the Bakhmut Fortress.
Late 19th century | The European Industrial Revolution
The region becomes the “Eastern Eldorado.” Belgian, British, German, and French investments transform the steppe into the industrial heart of Europe. Yuz, Bosse, and Gorlov—names that laid the foundation for these cities.

1869 — John Yuz founded a metallurgical plant (the beginning of Donetsk’s history).
1917–1921 | The Struggle for Independence and the Ukrainian People’s Republic
Donetsk Oblast was part of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. Blue-and-yellow flags were raised here, and the renowned poet Volodymyr Sosyura (a native of Debaltseve) fought in the ranks of the Ukrainian People’s Republic Army.

The establishment of Ukrainian administrations in Bakhmut and Mariupol, and resistance to the Bolshevik occupation.
1960s–1980s | Cultural Resistance and Dissent
The Donetsk region gave Ukraine its “conscience”—Vasyl Stus, Ivan Dziuba, and Oleksa Tykhyi. This was a time of struggle for the Ukrainian language and human rights under totalitarianism.

The establishment of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, in which Oleksa Tykhyi (from a village near Druzhkivka) was an active participant.
1991–2013 | The Dawn of Independence and the Golden Age
An era of large-scale modernization. Donetsk is becoming a world-class metropolis, hosting Euro 2012 and opening one of the best airports in Eastern Europe.

The 2012 European Football Championship—a symbol of the region’s openness to the world.
2014 – Today | Resilience and the Struggle for Memory
The start of Russian aggression. The cities of Donetsk Oblast are becoming bastions of spirit. We are losing our walls, but we are strengthening our identity. The Donetsk Ridge Archive has emerged as a response to attempts to erase our history.

The defense of Donetsk Airport, Mariupol, and Bakhmut, and the daily resistance of every resident.
EXPLORE DONETSK REGION NOW
DONETSK REGION WILL BE FREE OF THE OCCUPIERS
EXPLORE DONETSK REGION NOW
Donetsk Oblast is a mosaic of cities and communities, each with its own history, architecture, and cultural heritage. The museum showcases both major urban centers and smaller communities, which together paint a comprehensive picture of the region.
COMING SOON
A Cultural Mosaic
We are piecing together fragments of the past and present to get a detailed, comprehensive picture of the region.
Visual memory
A photo archive capturing moments of transformation: from industrial grandeur to the scars of war and the first signs of recovery.
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