Tomnatyk (1,565 m) is one of the most intriguing summits in the Ukrainian Carpathians — a wide-open, treeless peak that hides a Cold War secret on its top: an abandoned Soviet anti-aircraft defence base codenamed 'Pamir'. It is a place where wild mountain nature meets a haunting piece of history.
Located in the Yalovychora mountain range, on the Tomnatykul ridge in Vyzhnytsia district of Chernivtsi Oblast, Tomnatyk offers a surprisingly accessible experience. Its slopes are relatively gentle, forested only at the base, while the summit itself is open grassland with sweeping views. To the north you can spot Yarovytsia (1,587 m), the highest peak in the entire Yalovychora massif. In summer the top is lush with subalpine meadow flowers; in autumn the forests below turn a brilliant gold. The nearest villages are Sarata to the south and Shepyt — both small and quiet, perfectly in keeping with the mood of this unhurried mountain.
How to reach the summitTomnatyk earned a moment of global fame when Ukrainian singer Jamala chose its slopes as the backdrop for the music video of '1944' — the song that won the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.