The Russians destroyed the unique Olympic sports complex in Donetsk region: an aerial bomb hit the pool

On August 23, the Russians shelled the “Olimpiyskiy” sports complex in Kurakhovo, Donetsk region. As a result of the airstrike, the building of the complex was destroyed. An open 50-meter Olympic-size swimming pool was damaged.

In addition to the direct hit to the complex, nearby high-rise buildings, buildings and a shopping center were damaged. Two people were injured. This facility has a 50-meter outdoor pool, which was heated to 29 degrees (it was heated all year round thanks to the Kurakhiv TPP), so it functioned at any time of the year. Previously, it was used as a training base for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

For 40 years of operation, the sports complex has hosted many Ukrainian championships and other tournaments with the participation of star athletes, including Yana Klochkova and Oleg Lisohor. More than 300 people came to Kurakhovo every year for educational and training meetings. Since 2014, the complex stopped its work due to the start of hostilities in Donbas, but it was reopened in 2019.

On August 15, 2023, a Russian missile hit the Meteor sports complex in Dnipro. The windows were blown out, the facade and the inner wall were broken. The complex was quickly restored, but later there were new arrivals in the pool area. “Meteor” with an indoor 50-meter pool is considered one of the best swimming sports complexes in the country, it was also a base for Olympic training before the war.

According to the data of the morning of August 24, according to the data of the regional military administration, the Russians killed 1,933 civilians and wounded 4,828 in the Donetsk region. These numbers do not include the dead and wounded in Mariupol and Volnovas. Every day, new destruction is recorded in the region as a result of Russian shelling.