On the western outskirts of the village of Horenka in Bucha Raion, between Kyiv and Hostomel, stands DOT No. 480 — a permanent firing position of the first line of the Kyiv Fortified Region. The two-storey concrete structure was built in 1930 right on the front line of Kyiv's defence. It survived the war of 1941, and in February–March 2022 it became part of the capital's defence once again. It is a local historical monument.
How the pillbox is designed
DOT No. 480 has two floors and three embrasures for heavy machine guns — its primary armament. It contains a special anti-chemical chamber, so according to the KiUR classification, it belongs to type "B" structures with an "M1" resistance class: such a pillbox could withstand a hit from a 203 mm howitzer shell. Organizationally, it was part of the 1st Battalion Defence Area, which covered Horenka and Mostyshche.
1941
In the summer of 1941, the pillbox's garrison consisted of soldiers from the 161st Separate Machine Gun Battalion of the KiUR. Until 24–25 August, the pillbox was in the rear of the Soviet troops, as the front line ran further west. During the second assault on the fortified region, which began on 16 September, it had no combat contact with the enemy. On 18 September, the troops of the 37th Army began withdrawing from the KiUR and Kyiv under orders; the pillbox garrisons were among the last to retreat to the left bank of the Dnipro. On 19 September, the German 71st Infantry Division occupied this area without a fight.
Horenka in 2022
Horenka borders Kyiv's Pushcha-Vodytsia to the south and Hostomel to the north, so in February 2022 it found itself on the front line. The village was shelled from the first days of the invasion; people hid in basements without electricity, gas, or water, while local volunteers evacuated between 600 and a thousand people. By 27 March 2022, 123 houses in Horenka had burned to the ground. The old DOT No. 480 was once again used by the defenders of Kyiv.
Other pillboxes of Horenka
Several KiUR structures have been preserved around the village: well-preserved DOTs No. 481, 483, 502, and 503; semi-ruined No. 484 and 505; and damaged No. 504. DOT No. 485 was destroyed in 2018. DOT No. 480 itself is partially ruined, but the area around it has been tidied up.
How to get there
Horenka is located just beyond Kyiv's north-western city limit, near Pushcha-Vodytsia; minibuses run here from Kyiv. The pillbox is on the western outskirts of the village.
Tip
Do not climb into the embrasures or onto the roof slabs — the concrete is crumbling. By walking from pillbox to pillbox, you can see how the defence line was arranged. Other KiUR structures include the underground "mine group" 401/402 in Bilohorodka and DOT No. 582 near Liutizh. Read more about the region in the article about Kyiv Polissia.
