Since the reunification, Russia invested 4 bln rubles in Artek. Artek is an EduCamp and recreational resort for children along the Black Sea coast that consists of 10 separate “camps” as they are traditionally called. The territory of Artek is larger than the territory of Monaco. Guests and workers use electric cars to get around. Buildings that were built back in the USSR were completely renovated, with some new buildings added. It has become a year around recreational and educational center for children. Russia’s Ministry of Education that operates Artek rejected the commercial use of it, as it was during the Ukraine occupation of Crimea. Children are awarded trips to Artek for their achievements in education, sports and arts, or volunteering. Artek has a system of partners, who recommend children. For example, Samara State Aerospace University
which launched a Centre for Talented Children with the program in aviation construction. Artek’s partners also hold Olympics in mathematics, physics and engineering. Winners of these competitions get to travel to Artek.
Artek also has a year around functioning school for 300 children, for kids from Artek and also from local villages, Gurzuf and even Yalta.
2015. In Crimea, Artek has been reopened after an extensive reconstruction
Morning in Artek, Crimea
Crimea. Artek in paintings of Soviet artists
Coastal Crimea near Artek, 2015
Artek after reconstruction.
1. Artek Today. Part I
2. Artek after reconstruction. Part II
3. Artek after reconstruction. Part III
Artek in Crimea is an educational as much as recreational resort for children. That’s why children have their science and research projects they work on. The most popular project amongst kids is a Sea Club. they all want to learn how to be boatmen and to sail. Even during the winter, kinds want to go to sea.
Collection of never seen historical images of Artek starting with the first year and throughout the years. Artek was destroyed twice, during the German occupation and during the Ukrainian occupation.
Several pictures of Artek during Ukrainian occupation. Out of 10 camps, only one remained open.
Day in Artek -1939 documentary
I visited Crimea and Kiev a year before Yanukovich was overthrown. There was a huge difference between the two places. All the Crimeans we met said they were Russian. They were generally very friendly, positive and had that great Russian dry wit that i love so much. In Kiev people were very anti-Russian and seemed to still resent that the capital of Rus had moved. We were told complete nonsense by a young woman about the war, which spoiled a visit to the Great Patriotic War Museum, which is a very moving place. I studied Russian and modern European history at university but even someone with high school history would have cringed at the garbage she was robotically serving up. People in Kiev struck me as quite superstitious, resentful and naive. Although I know it’s unfair to generalise this was the impression i came away with. I am very keen to return to Crimea but won’t go to Kiev again.
In watching that great 1939 video.I can’t help but wonder how many of those happy smiling children and adults survived the WW2 nazi invasion. I suspect many of them were killed in what I’d have to call the Soviet holocaust, that murdered close to 27 million Soviet citizens.Especially many of the adults and older children who would almost certainly have served in the Soviet military during the war. Knowing their probable fate only 2 years from the video’s production made it sad watching it.
These videos bring about mixed feelings. Considering that Ukrainians and Russians shared the common friendly past of the Soviet Union, considering that basically they are one and the same people. But, I can´t help thinking, typically Ukrainian to have squandered this great treasure that the friendship of all Soviet Republics created.
I wondered how many Nations would not be grateful to have one tenth of this treasure!?
It also speaks volumes of the great contempt that all Ukrainian governments from Kuchma to Yanukovich, had for their people, their nation (if that was what they wanted to create), and worst off for their children. they squandered and looted to their hearts content, and brainwashed their population to believe they were never Soviets, and that they were the non plus ultra, richest, most creative, most productive of all, most beautiful of all, not unlike the evil Queen, alas, the mirror is broken and what remains of Ukraine can´t see its true face, even now, facing their bottomless pit of delusion
Hurrah! for Crimea, Hurrah! for Russia!