Dating back to the days of Imperial Russia, the massive brick and mortar fortress was built in the 18th and 19th centuries to protect the Lviv-Kyiv railway and the surrounding area. Fast forward to the 20th century, the ruined fort has also been a setting for the film industry, most notably a scene from Inglourious Basterds. Some locals claim that the village is still haunted by the ghosts of soldiers who died within the fort’s walls during centuries of occupation by Ukrainian, Russian, and German forces. During World War II, when German forces occupied the fort, there were rumors that Nazi scientists used the space to conduct horrific experiments on prisoners in a secret lab in an effort to create supersoldiers. The massive fortress was accessed through a 100-meter-long tunnel that was used to transport equipment in and out of the fort. Tarakanivske once housed a residential area, shops, a prison, a small church, and a hospital. Tarakanovsky Fort is now owned by the Ministry of Defense. It is hidden among the forest, and when visiting you feel like you are in another world. The ruins are free to explore, but there are places that can be dangerous and require great attention. It is highly recommended to have a flashlight or a strong torch and suitable footwear.