Not far from the place where the Irpin flows into the Kyiv Reservoir, on the territory of the Demidiv river port, stands pillbox No. 580 — a long-term fortification of the 21st battalion district of the Kyiv Fortified Region. It was one of the frontline pillboxes on the northern flank of Kyiv's defense, and it was here on September 18, 1941, that the final assault on the fortified region in this sector began.
How the pillbox is structured
Pillbox No. 580 has one floor and three embrasures for heavy machine guns, plus two more for light machine guns that covered the entrance at close range. Its resistance class is "M1": the structure could withstand a direct hit from a 203-mm howitzer shell. The garrison consisted of soldiers from the 161st Separate Machine Gun Battalion of the Kyiv Fortified Region.
The morning of September 18, 1941
Until August 24–25, the pillbox was in the rear because the frontline ran further west. The second assault on the fortified region began on September 16, and early in the morning on September 18, the 296th German Infantry Division attacked this sector. Already at eight in the morning, the enemy captured the pillbox. In the final moments, only a single Red Army soldier remained by the machine gun, whose name is unknown — he died at his post. On the same day, pillbox No. 582 of Lieutenant Novakivskyi fought deeper within the defense, and in the afternoon, the troops of the 37th Army began withdrawing from Kyiv.
What is at the site today
Access to the pillbox is restricted because it is on the port's territory, but it is clearly visible from the dam. The entrance and embrasure are bricked up. The dam between the Kyiv Reservoir and the Irpin floodplain is a popular spot for walks and views of the "sea".
How to get there
Demidiv is 35 km north of Kyiv, in the Vyshhorod district, near Kozarovychi. It is most convenient to travel by car via Vyshhorod and Liutizh or through Dymer. The pillbox is near the river port; it is best viewed from the dam.
Tip
Do not enter the port territory without permission. Nearby are the Kyiv Reservoir, pillbox No. 582 near Liutizh, and the Museum of Ukrainian Military Valor in Novi Petrivtsi. Read more about the region in the article about Kyiv Polissia.
