Kyiv – the capital of Ukraine

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine. It is a political, economic, scientific and cultural centre of
the country. The city stretches along the Dnieper for more than 50 km. The Dnieper
River naturally divides Kiev into the Right Bank and the Left Bank areas. Historically located
on the western right bank of the river, the city expanded into the left bank only in the 20th
century. Most of Kiev's attractions as well as the majority of business and governmental
institutions are located on the right bank. The eastern Left Bank is predominantly residential.
There are large industrial and green areas in both the Right Bank and the Left Bank.
Kyiv’s history spans fifteen centuries. The city was razed to the ground by foreign
invaders several times, but again and again it rose from the ashes. Kyiv was founded more
than 1500 years ago by three brothers and their sister Lybid. The city was named after the
eldest brother Kyi. In the 9th-11th centuries it was one of the largest European cities, a fortress
with the main gate called the Golden Gate. It was named in imitation of the Golden
Gate of Constantinople. (The structure was dismantled in the Middle Ages, leaving few
vestiges of its existence. It was rebuilt completely by the Soviet authorities in 1982, though no
images of the original gates have survived. )
Kiev's most famous historical architecture complexes are the St. Sophia Cathedral and
the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), which are recognized by UNESCO as
a World Heritage Site. Noteworthy historical architectural landmarks also include
the Mariyinsky Palace (designed and constructed from 1745 to 1752, then reconstructed in
1870), several Orthodox churches such as St. Michael's Cathedral, St. Andrew's,
St. Vladimir's, the reconstructed Golden Gate and others.
The most ancient edifice preserved till our days from the Kyiv Rus times is St. Sophia’s
Cathedral which was built in the 11th century by Yaroslav the Wise. The word “sophia”
comes from the Greek word “sophia” which means “wisdom”. The Cathedral was meant to
establish Christianity in the country. It was used as a place of coronation ceremonies, a place
to receive foreign ambassadors, here the chronicles were written, for Yaroslav the Wise
established at St.Sophia’s the first library and scriptorium in Old Kyiv Rus.
One more church is Pecherska Lavra (Lavra – the largest monastery). It was one of
the most famous monasteries in Kyivan Rus. It was built in 1051 by two monks with the aim
to spread the newly adopted Christian religion. The Tower of Lavra can be seen at a distance
of many km from Kyiv and was a site of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians throughout
Europe.
The monument to prince Volodymyr the Great is another landmark claiming tourist
attention. Volodymyr is known for converting himself, family and the population of Kyevan
Rus to Christianity in 988.
Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center of Eastern
Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions, and historical
landmarks. The city has an extensive system of public transport and infrastructure, including
the Kiev Metro.
The main street of the capital is Chreschatyk. It is beautiful in all the seasons and
considered the city’s main avenue. It is lined with high buildings and decorated green alleys of
chestnut trees, lawns and flowerbeds. To make the traffic of this busy street safe there were
built underground passages (subways) under it.
Independence Square and Khreschatyk Street become a large outdoor party place at
night during summer months, with thousands of people having a good time in nearby
restaurants, clubs and outdoor cafes. The central streets are closed for auto traffic on weekends
and holidays. Andriyivskyy Descent is one of the best known historic streets and a major
tourist attraction in Kiev. Taras Shevchenko Boulevard, that starts from Khreshchatyk, with its
charming poplar alley, blocks of new apartment buildings is one of the most beautiful streets
in Kyiv. Parallel to Khreshchatyk there runs Volodymyr-Street. It starts from the Historical
Museum next to which one can see St. Andrew’s Church. In the neighborhood, in the centre of
a spacious square there stands the monument to Bohdan Khnelnytskyi, the outstanding
Ukrainian military leader and statesman.
Kiev's theatres include the Kiev Opera House, Ivan Franko National Academic Drama
Theater, Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama, the Kiev Puppet
Theater, October Palace and National Philharmonic of Ukraine and others. A public concert
was held on Maidan Nezalezhnosti during Kiev's 2005 Eurovision Song Contest as in 2005
Kiev hosted the 50th annual Eurovision Song Contest and in 2017 the 62nd annual Eurovision
Song Contest.
Other significant cultural centres include the Dovzhenko Film Studios, and the Kiev
Circus. The most important of the city's many museums are the Kiev State Historical
Museum, Museum of The History of Ukraine in World War II, the National Art Museum,
the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, the Pinchuk Art Centre and the National Museum
of Russian art.
Kiev is known as a green city with two botanical gardens and numerous large and small
parks. The Museum of The History of Ukraine in World War II is located here, which offers
both indoor and outdoor displays of military history and equipment surrounded by verdant
hills overlooking the Dnieper river.
Among the numerous islands, Venetsianskyi (or Hydropark) is the most developed. It is
accessible by metro or by car, and includes an amusement park, swimming beaches, boat
rentals, and night clubs. The Victory Park (Park Peremohy) located near Darnytsia subway
station is a popular destination for strollers, joggers, and cyclists. Boating, fishing, and water
sports are popular pastimes in Kiev. The area lakes and rivers freeze over in the winter and ice
fishermen are a frequent sight, as are children with their ice skates. However, the peak of
summer draws out a greater mass of people to the shores for swimming or sunbathing, with
daytime high temperatures sometimes reaching 30 to 34 °C.
Scientific research is conducted in many institutes of higher education and, additionally,
in many research institutes affiliated with the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Kiev is home
to Ukraine's ministry of education and science, and is also noted for its contributions to
medical and computer science research.
In 2016 UNIT Factory (Ukrainian National IT Factory) opened. It offers a completely
new format of IT education. The education is completely free for all trainees subject to
compliance with the terms of the program. Within this project are the Technology Companies’
Development Center (TCDC), BIONIC University open inter-corporate IT-university, as well
as two hi-tech laboratories—VR Lab (Crytek) and Smart City lab.
Kiev hosts many universities, the major ones being Kiev National Taras Shevchenko
University, the National Technical University “Kiev Polytechnic Institute", Kyiv-Mohyla
Academy and the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics. Of these, the Mohyla
Academy is the oldest, founded as a theological school in 1632, but Shevchenko University,
founded in 1834, is the oldest in continuous operation. The total number of institutions of
higher education in Kiev approaches 200, allowing young people to pursue almost any line of
study. While education traditionally remains largely in the hands of the state there are several
accredited private institutions in the city.
Kiev is served by two international passenger airports: the Boryspil Airport located 30
kilometres (19 miles) away, and the smaller, municipally owned Zhulyany Airport on the
southern outskirts of the city.
Each street, every small corner of Kyiv are witnesses to many past and recent events.
So, one of the most ancient cities of Ukraine has much to show and tell its quests.