Kharkiv Correctional Colony (No. 43)

The State Institution “Kharkiv Correctional Colony (No. 43)” is one of the oldest penal institutions in the Kharkiv region.

It is located in the Industrialnyi District of the city of Kharkiv, near the territory of the Kharkiv Tractor Plant, the history of which is closely linked to the establishment and development of the institution.

The history of the colony dates back to 1943, following the liberation of Kharkiv from German occupation. Initially, a camp for German prisoners of war was established on its territory, who were involved in the reconstruction of the Kharkiv Tractor Plant and the construction of the Kharkiv–Simferopol highway.

In subsequent years, the institution served as a transit point for prisoners en route to various correctional facilities of the USSR.

At different periods of its existence, the institution was known as “Verification and Filtration Camp No. 258” (1943–1947), “Separate Camp Point No. 8” (1947–1950), “YuZh-313/43”, “Institution YuZh-313/43”, and later, “Corrective Labour Colony of Strict Regime No. 43”.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the colony’s convicts took an active part in the post-war reconstruction of Kharkiv. They worked on the construction of industrial enterprises, residential quarters, and transport and social infrastructure facilities, making a significant contribution to the development of the city.

Today, the State Institution “Kharkiv Correctional Colony (No. 43)” is a medium-security institution for the detention of men sentenced to imprisonment for a specific term who have previously served a custodial sentence.

The institution ensures the execution of criminal sentences, the organisation of convict labour, social, educational, and psychological work, professional training, and the provision of medical care in accordance with the requirements of penal legislation.

Following the onset of the full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation, the city of Kharkiv became one of the most affected regional centres in Ukraine. The institution has repeatedly found itself in a zone of missile threats and massive drone attacks.

Despite the difficult security situation, the Kharkiv Correctional Colony (No. 43) continues to carry out its functions.

The institution is regularly visited by representatives of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the National Preventive Mechanism, non-governmental human rights organisations, and international experts.

During monitoring visits, assessments are made of the conditions of detention, the realisation of rights to healthcare, work, education, and the maintenance of social ties, as well as the compliance of detention conditions with international standards for the treatment of persons deprived of liberty.

Contact information Address: 17 Tadytska St, Kharkiv, Kharkiv region, 61089.

Head of the institution: Dmytro Petrovych Fendrikov.

Telephone: (057) 293-81-20. E-mail: [email protected].