With almost 2 million inhabitants, Kharkiv (Khar'kov in Russian) is Ukraine's second largest city, situated in the eastern part of the country. Initially a combined network of existing suburban and new urban lines was planned during the 1960's, but when the first tunnel sections were finished common 2.7 m wide rolling stock was ordered for exclusive metro use.

The Kharkiv Metro was inaugurated on 23 August 1975 (10.4 km with 8 stations). Stations in the city centre are very deep, less so in outer areas. Similarly to the Moscow or Kyiv metros, most stations are beautiful underground palaces. Platform length is 100 m for 5-car trains on all lines. Between Kyivs'ka and Barabashova, the Saltivs'ka Line crosses the Kharkiv river on a 988 m covered bridge.

The network has a total length of about 38.5 km with 30 stations (2016):

23 Aug 1975 - Kholodna Gora (formerly Ul. Sverdlova) - Moskovs'kyi prospekt
23 Aug 1978 - Moskovs'kyi prospekt - Proletars'ka
11 Aug 1984 - Istorychnyi Muzei - Barabashova (7.7 km)
26 Oct 1986 - Barabashova - Heroiv Pratsi (Russian Geroyev Truda)
06 May 1995 - Metrobudivnykiv - Naukova
21 Aug 2004 - Naukova - 23 Serpnia (Russian 23 Avgusta) (2.6 km)
21 Dec 2010 - 23 Serpnia - Oleksiivska (2.0 km)
25 Aug 2016: Oleksiivska - Peremoha (1.1 km)

Dec 2015: Radianska station renamed Maidan Konstytutsii
Aug 2016: Radians'koi Armii > Armiys'ka; Imeni Marshala Zhukova > Palats Sportu; Proletars'ka > Industrial'na; Ploscha Povstannia > Zakhysnykiv Ukrainy (Defenders of Ukraine); Metrobudivnykiv im. Vaschenka > Metrobudivnykiv
Oct 2019: Moskovs'skyi Prospekt > Turboatom

 Projects

By the year 2025, 50 km of new lines with 30 stations should be built. See map with planned extensions.