Hotel Ukraina to Undergo Renovations

BBC has posted the most heartbreaking pictures yet of the flooding in Eastern Europe. There are several English-language Eastern European news agencies out there, but BBC has seemed to have the most consistently updated information. I'll continue my search and update as needed if I find pertinent tidbits elsewhere.

In other news, Hotel Ukraina in Moscow will be undergoing renovation. From their website:

The beginning of reconstruction is planned for January 2007, the finalization - for the 4th quarter of 2011. It is planned to reconstruct the hotel areas and restaurants and to reconstruct the highest observation platform (its height is 245 m) in the center of Moscow and to repair a spire.

This famous hotel (the original plans were supposedly approved by Stalin himself) is a formidible example of Stalinist architecture and proof that Communist Russia did indeed maintain privileges for those who could afford it. Ukraina is still a luxury hotel, though perhaps its location and history are more attractive to guests than are its amenities.