Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous

city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the

Dnieper River The Dnieper or Dnepr ( ), also called Dnipro ( ), is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. Approximately long, with ...

. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2,952,301, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyiv is an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center. It is home to many

high-tech High technology (high tech or high-tech), also known as advanced technology (advanced tech) or exotechnology, is technology that is at the cutting edge: the highest form of technology available. It can be defined as either the most complex or ...

industries, higher education institutions, and historical landmarks. The city has an extensive system of

public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...

and infrastructure, including the

Kyiv Metro The Kyiv Metro (, ) is a rapid transit system in Kyiv, Ukraine, owned by the Kyiv City Council and operated by the city-owned company Kyivskyi Metropoliten''.'' It was initially opened on 6 November 1960, as a single line with five stations. I ...

. The city's name is said to derive from the name of Kyi, one of its four legendary founders. During its history, Kyiv, one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, passed through several stages of prominence and obscurity. The city probably existed as a commercial center as early as the 5th century. A

Slavic Slavic, Slav or Slavonic may refer to: Peoples * Slavic peoples, an ethno-linguistic group living in Europe and Asia ** East Slavic peoples, eastern group of Slavic peoples ** South Slavic peoples, southern group of Slavic peoples ** West Slav ...

settlement on the great trade route between

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

and

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

, Kyiv was a tributary of the

Khazars The Khazars ; 突厥可薩 ''Tūjué Kěsà'', () were a nomadic Turkic people who, in the late 6th century CE, established a major commercial empire covering the southeastern section of modern European Russia, southern Ukraine, Crimea, a ...

, until its capture by the

Varangians The Varangians ( ; ; ; , or )Varangian
," Online Etymology Dictionary were

Vikings Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

) in the mid-9th century. Under Varangian rule, the city became a capital of

Kievan Rus' Kievan Rus', also known as Kyivan Rus,. * was the first East Slavs, East Slavic state and later an amalgam of principalities in Eastern Europe from the late 9th to the mid-13th century.John Channon & Robert Hudson, ''Penguin Historical At ...

, the first East Slavic state. Completely

destroyed Destroyed may refer to: * ''Destroyed'' (Sloppy Seconds album), a 1989 album by Sloppy Seconds * ''Destroyed'' (Moby album), a 2011 album by Moby See also * Destruction (disambiguation) * Ruined (disambiguation) Ruins are the remains of man-m ...

during the

Mongol invasions The Mongol invasions and conquests took place during the 13th and 14th centuries, creating history's largest contiguous empire, the Mongol Empire (1206–1368), which by 1260 covered large parts of Eurasia. Historians regard the Mongol devastati ...

in 1240, the city lost most of its influence for the centuries to come. Coming under

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

, then

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

and then

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

, the city would grow from a frontier market into an important centre of Orthodox learning in the sixteenth century, and later of industry, commerce, and administration by the nineteenth. The city prospered again during the Russian Empire's

Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution, sometimes divided into the First Industrial Revolution and Second Industrial Revolution, was a transitional period of the global economy toward more widespread, efficient and stable manufacturing processes, succee ...

in the late 19th century. In 1918, when the

Ukrainian People's Republic The Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) was a short-lived state in Eastern Europe. Prior to its proclamation, the Central Council of Ukraine was elected in March 1917 Ukraine after the Russian Revolution, as a result of the February Revolution, ...

declared independence from the

Russian Republic The Russian Republic,. referred to as the Russian Democratic Federative Republic in the 1918 Constitution, was a short-lived state which controlled, ''de jure'', the territory of the former Russian Empire after its proclamation by the Rus ...

after the

October Revolution The October Revolution, also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution (in Historiography in the Soviet Union, Soviet historiography), October coup, Bolshevik coup, or Bolshevik revolution, was the second of Russian Revolution, two r ...

there, Kyiv became the republic's capital. From the end of the Ukrainian-Soviet and Polish-Soviet wars in 1921, Kyiv was part of the

Ukrainian SSR The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated as the Ukrainian SSR, UkrSSR, and also known as Soviet Ukraine or just Ukraine, was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of the Soviet Union from 1922 until 1991. ...

, of which it became the capital in 1934. The city suffered significant destruction during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

but quickly recovered in the postwar years, remaining the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

's third-largest city. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and

Ukrainian independence Ukraine emerged as the concept of a nation, and Ukrainians as a nationality, with the Ukrainian National Revival which began in the late 18th and early 19th century. The first wave of national revival is traditionally connected with the publi ...

in 1991, Kyiv remained Ukraine's capital and experienced a steady influx of ethnic Ukrainian migrants from other regions of the country. During the country's transformation to a

market economy A market economy is an economic system in which the decisions regarding investment, production, and distribution to the consumers are guided by the price signals created by the forces of supply and demand. The major characteristic of a mark ...

and

electoral democracy Representative democracy, also known as indirect democracy or electoral democracy, is a type of democracy where elected delegates represent a group of people, in contrast to direct democracy. Nearly all modern Western-style democracies funct ...

, Kyiv has continued to be Ukraine's largest and wealthiest city. Its armament-dependent industrial output fell after the Soviet collapse, adversely affecting science and technology, but new sectors of the economy such as services and

finance Finance refers to monetary resources and to the study and Academic discipline, discipline of money, currency, assets and Liability (financial accounting), liabilities. As a subject of study, is a field of Business administration, Business Admin ...

facilitated Kyiv's growth in salaries and investment, as well as providing continuous funding for the development of

housing Housing refers to a property containing one or more Shelter (building), shelter as a living space. Housing spaces are inhabited either by individuals or a collective group of people. Housing is also referred to as a human need and right to ...

and urban infrastructure. Kyiv has emerged as the most

pro-Western The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to various nations and state (polity), states in Western Europe, Northern America, and Australasia; with some debate as to whether those in Eastern Europe and Latin America also const ...

region of Ukraine;

parties A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

advocating tighter integration with the European Union dominate during

elections in Ukraine An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operate ...

Name

* ( , ) or Kiev ( ) *, *, The traditional etymology, stemming from the ''

Primary Chronicle The ''Primary Chronicle'', shortened from the common ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (, commonly transcribed ''Povest' vremennykh let'' (PVL), ), is a Rus' chronicle, chronicle of Kievan Rus' from about 850 to 1110. It is believed to have been or ...

'', is that the name is a derivation of Kyi (, , ''Ky'' or ''Kiy''), the legendary eponymous founder of the city. According to

Oleg Trubachyov Oleg Nikolayevich Trubachyov (also transliterated as Trubachev or Trubačev, ; 23 October 1930, in Stalingrad – 9 March 2002, in Moscow) was a Russian linguist. A researcher of the etymology of Slavic languages and Slavic onomastics, he was co ...

's etymological dictionary from the

Old East Slavic Old East Slavic (traditionally also Old Russian) was a language (or a group of dialects) used by the East Slavs from the 7th or 8th century to the 13th or 14th century, until it diverged into the Russian language, Russian and Ruthenian language ...

name ''*Kyjevŭ gordŭ'' (literally, "Kyi's castle", "Kyi's gord"), from

Proto-Slavic Proto-Slavic (abbreviated PSl., PS.; also called Common Slavic or Common Slavonic) is the unattested, reconstructed proto-language of all Slavic languages. It represents Slavic speech approximately from the 2nd millennium BC through the 6th ...

''*kyjevъ'', This etymology has been questioned, for instance by

Mykhailo Hrushevsky Mykhailo Serhiiovych Hrushevsky (; – 24 November 1934) was a Ukrainian academician, politician, historian and statesman who was one of the most important figures of the Ukrainian national revival of the early 20th century. Hrushevsky is ...

, who called it an "etymological myth", and meant that the names of the legendary founders are in turn based on place names. According to the Ukrainian-Canadian linguist

Jaroslav Rudnyckyj Jaroslav-Bohdan Antonovych Rudnyckyj (, ; November 28, 1910 – October 19, 1995) was a Ukrainian-Canadian linguist and lexicographer with a specialty in etymology and onomastics, folklorist, bibliographer, travel writer, and publicist. Care ...

, the name can be connected to the Proto-Slavic root *kyjь, but should be interpreted as meaning 'stick, pole' as in its modern Ukrainian equivalent Кий. The name should in that case be interpreted as 'palisaded settlement'. ''Kyiv'' is the official romanized Ukrainian name for the city, The entry is the same as the print edition of It includes the note "''Ukrainian name'': Kyiv". For American English, the website also includes the definition from In the 2018 fifth edition, WNWCD changed the main headword to ''Kyiv'', with ''Kiev'' as a see-also entry with the label "Russ. name for Kyiv". and it is used for legislative and official acts. ''Kiev'' is the traditional English name for the city, but because of its historical derivation from the Russian name, ''Kiev'' lost favor with many Western media outlets after the outbreak of the

Russo-Ukrainian War The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014 and is ongoing. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia Russian occupation of Crimea, occupied and Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, annexed Crimea from Ukraine. It then ...

in 2014 in conjunction with the KyivNotKiev campaign launched by Ukraine to change the way that international media were spelling the city's name.

History

The first known humans in the region of Kyiv lived there in the late Paleolithic period (

Stone Age The Stone Age was a broad prehistory, prehistoric period during which Rock (geology), stone was widely used to make stone tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years and ended b ...

).Kyiv
at

Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia The ''Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia'' () was a multi-purpose encyclopedia of Ukraine, issued in the USSR. First attempt Following the publication of the first volume of the in Lviv, then in Poland, in 1930, the ''Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia ...

The population around Kyiv during the

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

formed part of the so-called Trypillian culture, as evidenced by artifacts from that culture found in the area. During the early

Iron Age The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...

certain tribes settled around Kyiv that practiced land cultivation, husbandry and trading with the

Scythians The Scythians ( or ) or Scyths (, but note Scytho- () in composition) and sometimes also referred to as the Pontic Scythians, were an Ancient Iranian peoples, ancient Eastern Iranian languages, Eastern Iranian peoples, Iranian Eurasian noma ...

and ancient states of the northern Black Sea coast. Findings of Roman coins of the 2nd to the 4th centuries suggest trade relations with the eastern provinces of the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...

. Notable archaeologists of the area around Kyiv include

Vikentiy Khvoyka Vikentiy Viacheslavovych Khvoyka (; ; ; born Čeněk Chvojka; 1850–1914) was an archaeologist who discovered the Neolithic Trypillia culture of Ukraine. He also researched the Scythian, Zarubintsy, Chernyakhov and early Slavic archaeological ...

Founding

Scholars continue to debate when the city was founded: The traditional founding date is 482 CE, so the city celebrated its 1,500th anniversary in 1982. Archaeological data indicates a founding in the sixth or seventh centuries,Kyiv
", ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved 9 March 2020. with some researchers dating the founding as late as the late 9th century. There are several legendary accounts of the origin of the city. One tells of members of a Slavic tribe ( Eastern Polans), brothers Kyi (the eldest, after whom the city was named), Shchek, Khoryv, and their sister Lybid, who founded the city (See the ''

''). Another legend states that

Saint Andrew Andrew the Apostle ( ; ; ; ) was an apostle of Jesus. According to the New Testament, he was a fisherman and one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. The title First-Called () used by the Eastern Orthodox Church stems from the Gospel of Jo ...

passed through the area in the 1st century. Where the city is now he erected a cross, where a church later was built. Since the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

an image of

Saint Michael Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel and the warrior of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second- ...

has represented the city as well as the

duchy A duchy, also called a dukedom, is a country, territory, fiefdom, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess, a ruler hierarchically second to the king or Queen regnant, queen in Western European tradition. There once existed an important differe ...

. There is little historical evidence pertaining to the period when the city was founded. Scattered

settlements existed in the area from the 6th century, but it is unclear whether any of them later developed into the city. On the

Ptolemy world map The Ptolemy world map is a map of the world known to Greco-Roman societies in the 2nd century. It is based on the description contained in Ptolemy's book ''Geography'', written . Based on an inscription in several of the earliest surviving manusc ...

there are several settlements indicated along the mid-stream of Borysthenes, among which is Azagarium, which some historians believe to be the predecessor to Kyiv. However, according to the 1773 ''Dictionary of Ancient Geography'' of Alexander Macbean, that settlement corresponds to the modern city of

Chernobyl Chernobyl, officially called Chornobyl, is a partially abandoned city in Vyshhorod Raion, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. It is located within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, to the north of Kyiv and to the southwest of Gomel in neighbouring Belarus. ...

. Just south of Azagarium, there is another settlement, Amadoca, believed to be the capital of the Amadoci people living in an area between the marshes of Amadoca in the west and the Amadoca mountains in the east. Another name for Kyiv mentioned in history, the origin of which is not completely clear, is Sambat, which apparently has something to do with the Khazar Empire. The ''Primary Chronicle'' says the residents of Kyiv told

Askold Askold and Dir (''Haskuldr'' or ''Hǫskuldr'' and ''Dyr'' or ''Djur'' in Old Norse; died in 882), mentioned in both the ''Primary Chronicle'', the ''Novgorod First Chronicle'', and the ''Nikon Chronicle'', were the earliest known rulers of Kyiv, ...

"there were three brothers Kyi, Shchek, and Khoriv. They founded this town and died, and now we are staying and paying taxes to their relatives the Khazars". In ''De Administrando Imperio'',

Constantine Porphyrogenitus Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (; 17 May 905 – 9 November 959) was the fourth Byzantine emperor of the Macedonian dynasty, reigning from 6 June 913 to 9 November 959. He was the son of Emperor Leo VI and his fourth wife, Zoe Karbonopsina, an ...

mentions a caravan of small cargo boats which assembled annually, and writes, "They come down the river Dnieper and assemble at the strong-point of Kyiv (Kioava), also called Sambatas". At least three Arabic-speaking 10th century geographers who traveled the area mention the city of Zānbat as the chief city of the Russes. Among them are ibn Rustah,

Abu Sa'id Gardezi Abū Saʿīd ʿAbd-al-Ḥayy ibn Żaḥḥāk ibn Maḥmūd Gardīzī (), better known as Gardizi (), was an 11th-century Persian historian and official, who is notable for having written the ''Zayn al-akhbar'', one of the earliest history books ...

, and an author of the

Hudud al-'Alam The ''Ḥudūd al-ʿĀlam'' (, "Boundaries of the World," "Limits of the World," or in also in English "The Regions of the World") is a 10th-century geography book written in Persian by an anonymous author from Guzgan (present day northern Afg ...

. The texts of those authors were discovered by Russian orientalist Alexander Tumansky. The etymology of Sambat has been argued by many historians, including Grigoriy Ilyinsky,

Nikolay Karamzin Nikolay Mikhailovich Karamzin () was a Russian historian, writer, poet and critic. He is best remembered for his fundamental ''History of the Russian State'', a 12-volume national history. Early life Karamzin was born in the small village of ...

Jan Potocki Count Jan Potocki (; 8 March 1761 – 23 December 1815) was a Polish nobleman, ethnologist, linguist, traveller and author of the Enlightenment period, whose life and exploits made him a celebrated figure in Poland. He is known chiefly for his ...

, Nikolay Lambin, Joachim Lelewel, and

Guðbrandur Vigfússon Guðbrandur Vigfússon, known in English as Gudbrand Vigfusson, (13 March 1827 – 31 January 1889Jón þorkelsson, "Nekrolog över Guðbrandur Vigfússon" in ''Arkiv för nordisk filologi'', Sjätte bandet (ny följd: andra bandet), Lund, 18 ...

. The Primary Chronicle states that at some point during the late 9th or early 10th century Askold and Dir, who may have been of Viking or Varangian descent, ruled in Kyiv. They were murdered by

Oleg of Novgorod Oleg (), Oleh (), or Aleh () is an Slavic peoples, East Slavic given name. The name is very common in Russia, Ukraine, and Belаrus. Origins ''Oleg'' derives from the Old Norse ''Helgi'' (Helge (name), Helge), meaning "holy", "sacred", or "ble ...

in 882, but some historians, such as

Omeljan Pritsak Omeljan Yosypovych Pritsak (; 7 April 1919 – 29 May 2006) was the first Mykhailo Hrushevsky Professor of History of Ukraine, Ukrainian History at Harvard University and the founder and first director (1973–1989) of the Harvard Ukrainian Rese ...

and

Constantine Zuckerman Constantin Zuckerman (; born 1957) is a French historian and Professor of Byzantine studies at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris. Biography Academic rank: professor. Highest degree: doctorate. Job title: The Deputy Director of the Ce ...

, dispute that, arguing that Khazar rule continued as late as the 920s, leaving historical documents such as the Kievan Letter and Schechter Letter. Other historians suggest that

Magyar tribes The Magyar or Hungarian tribes ( , ) or Hungarian clans were the fundamental political units within whose framework the Hungarians (Magyars) lived, before the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin and the subsequent establishment of the Prin ...

ruled the city between 840 and 878, before migrating with some

Khazar The Khazars ; 突厥可薩 ''Tūjué Kěsà'', () were a nomadic Turkic people who, in the late 6th century CE, established a major commercial empire covering the southeastern section of modern European Russia, southern Ukraine, Crimea, an ...

tribes to the

Carpathian Basin The Pannonian Basin, with the term Carpathian Basin being sometimes preferred in Hungarian literature, is a large sedimentary basin situated in southeastern Central Europe. After the Treaty of Trianon following World War I, the geomorphologic ...

. The Primary Chronicle mentions Hungarians passing near Kyiv.

Askold's Grave Askold's Grave () is a historical park on the steep right bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv between Mariinskyi Park and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex. The park was created by the Soviets in the mid-1930s in place of an old graveyard around t ...

was previously known as " Uhorske urochyshche" (Hungarian place). According to the aforementioned scholars the building of the fortress of Kyiv was finished in 840 under the leadership of Keő (Keve), Csák, and Geréb, three brothers, possibly members of the Tarján tribe. The three names appear in the Kyiv Chronicle as Kyi, Shchek, and Khoryv and may be not of Slavic origin, as Russian historians have always struggled to account for their meanings and origins. According to Hungarian historian Viktor Padányi, their names were inserted into the Kyiv Chronicle in the 12th century, and they were identified as old-Russian mythological heroes. Lebedev baptism

The city of Kyiv stood on the trade route between the Varangians and the Greeks. In 968 the nomadic

Pechenegs The Pechenegs () or Patzinaks, , Middle Turkic languages, Middle Turkic: , , , , , , ka, პაჭანიკი, , , ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Pečenezi, separator=/, Печенези, also known as Pecheneg Turks were a semi-nomadic Turkic peopl ...

attacked and then besieged the city. By 1000 CE the city had a population of 45,000. In March 1169, Grand Prince

Andrey Bogolyubsky Andrey Yuryevich Bogolyubsky (, lit. Andrey Yuryevich of Bogolyubovo; died 28 June 1174) was Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal from 1157 until his death. During repeated internecine wars between the princely clans, Andrey accompanied his father Yuri D ...

Vladimir-Suzdal The Principality of Suzdal, from 1157 the Grand Principality of Vladimir, commonly known as Vladimir-Suzdal, or simply Suzdalia, was a medieval principality that was established during the disintegration of Kievan Rus'. In historiography, the ...

sacked Kyiv, leaving the old town and the prince's hall in ruins. He took many pieces of religious artwork - including the ''

Theotokos of Vladimir The Virgin of Vladimir, also known as Vladimir Mother of God, Our Lady of Vladimir (), is a 12th-century Byzantine icon depicting the Virgin and Child and an early example of the ''Eleusa'' iconographic type. It is one of the most culturally s ...

'' icon - from Vyshhorod. In 1203, Prince

Rurik Rostislavich Rurik Rostislavich, also spelt Riurik, ({{circa, 1140 - 19 April 1212{{efn, Other sources state the date of Rurik's death as 1211,1214 or 1215) was Prince of Novgorod (1170–1171), Belgorod (1173–1194), Grand Prince of Kiev (1173;{{sfn, Mar ...

and his Kipchak allies captured and burned Kyiv. In the 1230s, the city was besieged and ravaged several times by different Rus princes. The city had not recovered from these attacks when, in 1240, the

Mongol invasion of Rus' The Mongol Empire invaded and conquered much of Kievan Rus' in the mid-13th century, sacking numerous cities such as Principality of Ryazan, Ryazan, Principality of Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl, Principality of Pereyaslavl, Pereyaslavl and Vladimi ...

, led by

Batu Khan Batu Khan (–1255) was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Golden Horde, a constituent of the Mongol Empire established after Genghis Khan's demise. Batu was a son of Jochi, thus a grandson of Genghis Khan. His '' ulus'' ruled over the Kievan ...

, completed the destruction of Kyiv. These events had a profound effect on the future of the city and on the East Slavic civilization. Before Bogolyubsky's pillaging, Kyiv had had a reputation as one of the largest cities in the world, with a population exceeding 100,000 at the beginning of the 12th century. In the early 1320s, a Lithuanian army led by Grand Duke

Gediminas Gediminas ( – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341. He is considered the founder of Lithuania's capital Vilnius (see: Iron Wolf legend). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands from t ...

defeated a Slavic army led by Stanislav of Kyiv at the Battle on the Irpen' River and conquered the city. The

Tatars Tatars ( )Tatar
in the Collins English Dictionary are a group of Turkic peoples across Eas ...

, who also claimed Kyiv, retaliated in 1324–1325, so while Kyiv was ruled by a Lithuanian prince, it had to pay tribute to the

Golden Horde The Golden Horde, self-designated as ''Ulug Ulus'' ( in Turkic) was originally a Mongols, Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the division of ...

. Finally, as a result of the

Battle of Blue Waters The Battle of Blue Waters was fought at some time in the autumn of 1362 or 1363 on the banks of the Syniukha River, a left tributary of the Southern Bug, between the armies of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Golden Horde. The Lithuanians won ...

in 1362,

Algirdas Algirdas (; , ; – May 1377) was List of Lithuanian monarchs, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his brother Kęstutis (who defended the western border of the Duchy) he created an empire stretching from the pre ...

, Grand Duke of Lithuania, incorporated Kyiv and surrounding areas into the

Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a sovereign state in northeastern Europe that existed from the 13th century, succeeding the Kingdom of Lithuania, to the late 18th century, when the territory was suppressed during the 1795 Partitions of Poland, ...

. In 1482,

Crimean Tatars Crimean Tatars (), or simply Crimeans (), are an Eastern European Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group and nation indigenous to Crimea. Their ethnogenesis lasted thousands of years in Crimea and the northern regions along the coast of the Blac ...

sacked and burned much of Kyiv. At the time of the Lithuanian rule, the core of the city was located in

Podil Podil ( ) or Podol ( ), also known in English as the Lower City,Ivankin, H., Vortman, D. Podil (ПОДІЛ)'. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine. is a historic neighborhood in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. It is located on a floodplain terrace ...

and there was a Lithuanian with 18 towers on the Zamkova Hora which served as a residence of

Vladimir Olgerdovich Vladimir Olgerdovich (died after 1398) was the son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, his first wife was Maria of Vitebsk. He was the Prince of Kiev from 1362 to 1394. His sons Ivan and Alexander started the Belsky and Olelkovich families. ...

, Grand Prince of Kyiv, and subsequently of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (e.g.

Vytautas Vytautas the Great (; 27 October 1430) was a ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was also the prince of Grodno (1370–1382), prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), and the postulated king of the Hussites. In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revere ...

). With the 1569

Union of Lublin The Union of Lublin (; ) was signed on 1 July 1569 in Lublin, Poland, and created a single state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest countries in Europe at the time. It replaced the personal union of the Crown of the Kingd ...

, when the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was established, the Lithuanian-controlled lands of the Kyiv region (Podolia, Volhynia, and Podlachia) were transferred from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, and Kyiv became the capital of Kyiv Voivodeship. The 1658 Treaty of Hadiach envisaged Kyiv becoming the capital of the Grand Duchy of Rus' (1658), Grand Duchy of Rus' within the Polish–Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth, but this provision of the treaty never went into operation.

Russian suzerainty

Occupied by Russian troops since the 1654 Treaty of Pereyaslav, Kyiv became a part of the Tsardom of Russia from 1667 with the Truce of Andrusovo and enjoyed a Magdeburg Law, degree of autonomy. None of the Polish-Russian treaties concerning Kyiv have ever been ratified. In the Russian Empire, Kyiv was a primary Eastern Orthodoxy, Christian centre, attracting pilgrims, and the cradle of many of the empire's most important religious figures, but until the 19th century, the city's commercial importance remained marginal. Pic I V Ivasiuk Mykola Bohdan Khmelnytskys Entry to Kyiv

Pic I V Ivasiuk Mykola Bohdan Khmelnytskys Entry to Kyiv

In 1834, the Russian government established Saint Vladimir University, now called the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv after the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko (1814–1861). (Shevchenko worked as a field researcher and editor for the geography department). The medical faculty of Saint Vladimir University, separated into an independent institution in 1919–1921 during the Soviet period, became the Bogomolets National Medical University in 1995. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Imperial Russian Army and ecclesiastical authorities dominated city life; the Russian Orthodox Church had involvement in a significant part of Kyiv's infrastructure and commercial activity. In the late 1840s the historian, Mykola Kostomarov (Russian: ), founded a secret political society, the Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Saint Cyril and Methodius, whose members put forward the idea of a federation of free Slavic peoples with Ukrainians as a distinct and separate group rather than a subordinate part of the Russian nation; the Russian authorities quickly suppressed the society. Following the gradual loss of Ukraine's autonomy, Kyiv experienced growing Russification in the 19th century, by means of Russian migration, administrative actions, and social modernization. At the beginning of the 20th century the Russian language in Ukraine, Russian-speaking part of the population dominated the city centre, while the Social class, lower classes living on the outskirts retained Ukrainian folk culture to a significant extent. However, enthusiasts among ethnic Ukrainian aristocrats, soldiers, and merchants made attempts to preserve the native culture in Kyiv, by clandestine book-printing, amateur theatre, folk studies, etc. Kiev downtown

During the Industrialization in the Russian Empire, Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century, Kyiv became an important trade and transportation centre of the Russian Empire, specialising in sugar and grain export by railway and on the Dnieper river. By 1900, the city had also become a significant industrial centre, with a population of 250,000. Landmarks of that period include the railway infrastructure, the foundation of numerous educational and cultural facilities, and notable architectural monuments (mostly merchant-oriented). In 1892, the Trams in Kyiv, first electric tram line of the Russian Empire started running in Kyiv (the third in the world). Kyiv prospered during the late 19th century

in the Russian Empire, when it became the third most important city of the Empire and the major centre of commerce in its southwest.

Soviet era

In the Ukraine after the Russian Revolution, turbulent period following the Russian Revolution (1917), 1917 Russian Revolution, Kyiv became the capital of several Ukrainian People's Republic, successive Ukrainian states and was caught in the middle of several conflicts: World War I, during which German soldiers occupied it from 2 March 1918 to November 1918, the Russian Civil War of 1917 to 1922, and the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1921. During the last three months of 1919, Kyiv was intermittently controlled by the White Army. Kyiv changed hands sixteen times from the end of 1918 to August 1920. From 1921 to 1991, the city formed part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a founding republic of the

in 1922. The major events that took place in Soviet Ukraine during the interwar period all affected Kyiv: the 1920s Ukrainization as well as the migration of the rural Ukrainophone population made the Russophone city Ukrainian-speaking and bolstered the development of Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian cultural life in the city; the Industrialization in the Soviet Union, Soviet industrialization that started in the late 1920s turned the city, a former centre of commerce and religion, into a major industrial, technological and scientific centre; the Holodomor, 1932–1933 Great Famine devastated the part of the migrant population not registered for ration cards; and Joseph Stalin's Great Purge of 1937–1938 almost eliminated the city's intelligentsiaOrlando Figes ''The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia'', 2007, , pages 227–315.Robert Gellately, ''Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler: The Age of Social Catastrophe'' (Knopf, 2007: ), 720 pages. In 1934, Kyiv became the capital of Soviet Ukraine. The city boomed again during the years of Soviet industrialization as its population grew rapidly and many industrial giants were established, some of which exist today. In

, the city again suffered significant damage, and Nazi Germany occupied it from 19 September 1941 to Battle of Kiev (1943), 6 November 1943. Axis powers, Axis forces killed or captured more than 600,000 Soviet soldiers in the great encircling Battle of Kyiv (1941), Battle of Kyiv in 1941. Most of those captured never returned alive. Shortly after the Wehrmacht occupied the city, a team of NKVD officers who had remained hidden dynamited most of the buildings on the Khreshchatyk, the main street of the city, where German military and civil authorities had occupied most of the buildings; the buildings burned for days and 25,000 people were left homeless. Allegedly in response to the actions of the NKVD, the Germans rounded up all the local The Holocaust in Ukraine, Jews they could find, nearly 34,000, and massacred them at Babi Yar in Kyiv on 29 and 30 September 1941. In the months that followed, thousands more were taken to Babi Yar where they were shot. It is estimated that the Germans murdered List of victims of the Babi Yar massacre, more than 100,000 people of various ethnic groups, mostly civilians, at Babi Yar during World War II. Kiev 24

Kyiv recovered economically in the post-war years, becoming once again the third-most important city of the Soviet Union. The Chernobyl disaster, catastrophic accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 occurred only north of the city. However, the prevailing south wind blew most of the radioactive debris away from Kyiv.

Independence

In the course of the History of the Soviet Union (1982–1991), collapse of the Soviet Union the Verkhovna Rada, Ukrainian parliament proclaimed the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine in the city on 24 August 1991. In 2004–2005, the city played host to the largest post-Soviet public demonstrations up to that time, in support of the Orange Revolution. From November 2013 until February 2014, central Kyiv became the primary location of Euromaidan. During the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian Armed Forces, Russian forces attempted to Northern front of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, seize Kyiv but were Battle of Kyiv (2022), repelled by Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces on the outskirts of the city; Kyiv itself escaped major damage. Following the Russian retreat from the region in April 2022, Kyiv has been subject to frequent Kyiv strikes (2022–present), air strikes.

Environment

Geography

Geographically, Kyiv is on the border of the Polesia woodland ecological zone, a part of the European mixed woods area, and the East European forest steppe biome. However, the city's unique landscape distinguishes it from the surrounding region. Kyiv is completely surrounded by Kyiv Oblast. Originally on the west bank, today Kyiv is on both sides of the Dnieper, which flows southwards through the city towards the Black Sea. The older and higher western part of the city sits on numerous wooded hills (Kyiv Mountains, Kyiv Hills), with ravines and small rivers. Kyiv's geographical relief contributed to its toponyms, such as ''Podil'' ("lower"), ''Pechersk'' ("caves"), and ''uzviz'' (a steep street, "descent"). Kyiv is a part of the larger Dnieper Upland adjoining the western bank of the Dnieper in its mid-flow, and which contributes to the city's elevation change. The northern outskirts of the city border the Polesian Lowland. Kyiv expanded into the Dnieper Lowland on the left bank (''to the east'') as late as the 20th century. The whole portion of Kyiv on the left bank of the Dnieper is generally referred to as the ''Left Bank'' (, ''Livyi bereh''). Significant areas of the left bank Dnieper valley were artificially sand-deposited, and are protected by dams. Within the city the Dnieper River forms a branching system of tributary, tributaries, isles, and harbors within the city limits. The city is close to the mouth of the Desna River and the Kyiv Reservoir in the north, and the Kaniv Reservoir in the south. Both the Dnieper and Desna rivers are navigation, navigable at Kyiv, although regulated by the reservoir shipping locks and limited by winter freeze-over. In total, there are 448 bodies of open water within the boundaries of Kyiv, which include the Dnieper itself, its reservoirs, and several small rivers, dozens of lakes and artificially created ponds. They occupy 7949 hectares. Additionally, the city has 16 developed beaches (totalling 140 hectares) and 35 near-water recreational areas (covering more than 1,000 hectares). Many are used for pleasure and recreation, although some of the bodies of water are not suitable for swimming. According to the UN 2011 evaluation, there were no risks of natural disasters in Kyiv and Kyiv metropolitan area, its metropolitan area.

Climate

Kyiv has a warm-summer continental climate, humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification, Köppen ''Dfb''). The warmest months are June, July, and August, with mean temperatures of . The coldest are December, January, and February, with mean temperatures of . The highest ever temperature recorded in the city was on 30 July 1936. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was on 11 January 1951. Snow cover usually lies from mid-November to the end of March, with the frost-free period lasting 180 days on average, but surpassing 200 days in some years.

Legal status, local government and politics

Legal status and local government

The municipality of the city of Kyiv has a Cities with special status, special legal status within Ukraine compared to the other Administrative divisions of Ukraine, administrative subdivisions of the country. The most significant difference is that the city is considered as a region of Ukraine (see Regions of Ukraine). It is the only city that has double jurisdiction. The Head of Chief of Local State Administration (Ukraine), City State Administration – the city's governor – is appointed by the president of Ukraine, while the Head of the City Council – the mayor of Kyiv – is elected by local popular vote. The mayor of Kyiv is Vitali Klitschko, who was sworn in on 5 June 2014,Vitali Klitschko sworn in as mayor of Kyiv
, Interfax-Ukraine (5 June 2014) after he had won the 2014 Kyiv local election, 25 May 2014 Kyiv mayoral elections with almost 57% of the votes.Klitschko officially announced as winner of Kyiv mayor election
, Interfax-Ukraine (4 June 2014) Since 25 June 2014, Klitschko is also Kyiv City State Administration, Head of Kyiv City Administration.Poroshenko appoints Klitschko head of Kyiv city administration – decree
, Interfax-Ukraine (25 June 2014)
Poroshenko orders Klitschko to bring title of best European capital back to Kyiv
, Interfax-Ukraine (25 June 2014) Klitschko was last reelected in the 2020 Kyiv local election with 50.52% of the votes, in the first round of the election.Vitali Klitschko wins in first round of Kyiv mayor election
, Ukrinform (6 November 2020) Most key buildings of the national government are along Hrushevsky Street (Kyiv), Hrushevskoho Street (''vulytsia Mykhaila Hrushevskoho'') and Institute Street (''vulytsia Instytutska''). Hrushevskoho Street is named after the Ukrainian academician, politician, historian, and statesman

, who wrote an academic book titled: "Bar Starostvo: Historical Notes: XV–XVIII" about the history of Bar, Ukraine. That portion of the city is also unofficially known as the government quarter (). The city state administration and council is in the Kyiv City council building on Khreshchatyk Street. The oblast state administration and council is in the oblast council building on ''ploshcha Lesi Ukrainky'' ("Lesya Ukrainka Square").

Politics

The growing political and economic role of the city, combined with its international relations, as well as extensive Internet in Ukraine, internet and social network penetration, have made Kyiv the most pro-Western and pro-democracy region of Ukraine; (so called) National democratic, National Democratic

advocating tighter integration with the European Union receive most votes during Elections in Ukraine, elections in Kyiv.Interactive parliamentary election 2012 result maps
by Ukrayinska Pravda
Election results in Ukraine since 1998
, Central Election Commission of Ukraine
Nations and Nationalism: A Global Historical Overview
, ABC-CLIO, 2008, (page 1629)
Ukraine on its Meandering Path Between East and West
by Andrej Lushnycky and Mykola Riabchuk, Peter Lang (publishing company), Peter Lang, 2009, (page 122)
After the parliamentary elections in Ukraine: a tough victory for the Party of Regions
, Centre for Eastern Studies (7 November 2012)
Communist and Post-Communist Parties in Europe
by Uwe Backes and Patrick Moreau, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2008, (page 396)
Party of Regions gets 185 seats in Ukrainian parliament, Batkivschyna 101 – CEC
, Interfax-Ukraine (12 November 2012)
UDAR submits to Rada resolution on Ukraine's integration with EU
Interfax-Ukraine (8 January 2013)
Electronic Bulletin "Your Choice – 2012". Issue 4: Batkivshchyna
, Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (24 October 2012)
Ukraine's Party System in Transition? The Rise of the Radically Right-Wing All-Ukrainian Association "Svoboda"
by Andreas Umland, Centre for Geopolitical Studies (1 May 2011)
In a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in the first half of February 2014, 5.3% of those polled in Kyiv believed "Ukraine and Russia must unite into a single state", nationwide this percentage was 12.5.

Subdivisions

Traditional subdivision

The Dnieper River naturally divides Kyiv into the Right Bank and the Left Bank areas. Historically on the western right bank of the river, the city expanded into the left bank only in the 20th century. Most of Kyiv's attractions as well as the majority of business and governmental institutions are 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 is further informally divided into historical or territorial neighbourhoods, each housing from about 5,000 to 100,000 inhabitants.

Formal subdivision

The first known formal subdivision of Kyiv dates to 1810 when the city was subdivided into 4 parts: Pechersk, Kyiv, Pechersk, Starokyiv, and the first and the second parts of

. In 1833–1834 according to Russian tsar, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, Nicholas I's decree, Kyiv was subdivided into 6 police raions (Urban districts of Ukraine, districts); later being increased to 10. In 1917, there were 8 Raion Councils (''Duma''), which were reorganised by bolsheviks into 6 Party-Territory Raions. During the Soviet era, as the city was expanding, the number of raions also gradually increased. These newer districts of the city, along with some older areas were then named in honour of prominent communists and socialist-revolutionary figures; however, due to the way in which many communist party members eventually, after a certain period of time, fell out of favour and so were replaced with new, fresher minds, so too did the names of Kyiv's districts change accordingly. The last district reform took place in 2001 when the number of districts was decreased from 14 to 10. Under Oleksandr Omelchenko (mayor from 1999 to 2006), there were further plans for the merger of some districts and revision of their boundaries, and the total number of districts had been planned to be decreased from 10 to 7. With the election of the new mayor-elect (Leonid Chernovetskyi) in 2006, these plans were shelved. Each district has its own local government, locally elected council with jurisdiction over a limited scope of affairs.Elections to Kyiv district councils will take place on October 30 [2022] – the decision of the Kyiv City Council
, Interfax-Ukraine (3 February 2022)

Demographics

According to the official Resident registration, registration statistics, there were 2,847,200 residents within the city limits of Kyiv in July 2013.

Historical population

According to the Ukrainian Census (2001), All-Ukrainian Census, the population of Kyiv in 2001 was 2,611,327.The most recent Ukrainian Census (2001), Ukrainian census, conducted on 5 December 2001, gave the population of Kyiv as 2 611 300
Ukrcensus.gov.ua – Kyiv city
Web address accessed on 4 August 2007). Estimates based on the amount of bakery products sold in the city (thus including temporary visitors and commuters) suggest a minimum of 3.5 million.
There are up to 1.5 mln undercounted residents in Kiev
", ''Korrespondent'', 15 June 2005 The historic changes in population are shown in the side table. According to the census, some 1,393,000 (53.3%) were female and 1,219,000 (46.7%) were male. Comparing the results with the previous census (1989) shows the trend of population ageing which, while prevalent throughout the country, is partly offset in Kyiv by the inflow of working age migrants. Some 1,069,700 people had higher or completed secondary education, a significant increase of 21.7% since 1989. The June 2007 unofficial population estimate based on amount of bakery products sold in the city (thus including temporary visitors and commuters) gave a number of at least 3.5 million people.

Ethnic composition

Kyiv's ethnic composition has shifted greatly over the last centuries. According to the , conducted by the local branch of the Russian Geographical Society, there were 127,205 people living in Kyiv. Of these, 80% spoke "Russian language, Russian," 11% spoke "Yiddish, Jewish," 6% spoke Polish language, Polish and 2% spoke German language, German. Of the "Russian" speakers, 39% were recorded as speaking Little Russian (Ukrainian), which meant that Ukrainian speakers accounted for 30% of the city as a whole. Of the remaining "Russian" speakers, however, there were only 10% who spoke Greater Russian (Russian language, Russian) and 2% who spoke Belarusian language, Belarusian. The remaining 49% spoke in "generally Russian speech." According to the official census of 1897, the number of Great Russian speakers rose to 54%; speakers of Little Russian accounted for 22%. Jewish speakers accounted for 12%, Polish 6.7%. By the September 1917 city-census of Kyiv, conducted by the authorities of the

, the Ukrainian share of the population had been reduced to only 16%, while Russians now made up a majority at 50%. The Kyiv city census (1919), March 1919 Kyiv city census, conducted by the Bolshevik authorities, showed an increase in the percentage of the population identifying as Ukrainian to 25%. From then on, the city's Ukrainian population once again began to expand in terms of their share of the population, slowly returning to its former level. By the Soviet Census (1926), 1926 Soviet census, Ukrainians, at 41.6%, had once again begun to outnumber Russians, who made up 25.5%. By the Soviet Census (1959), 1959 Soviet census, Kyiv was once more a Ukrainian majority city, with 60% of the population identifying as such, the same percentage as in 1874. According to the 2001 census data, more than 130 nationalities and ethnic groups reside within the territory of Kyiv. Ukrainians constitute the largest ethnic group in Kyiv, accounting for 2,110,800 people, or 82.2% of the population. Russians comprise 337,300 (13.1%), Jews 17,900 (0.7%), Belarusians 16,500 (0.6%), Polish people, Poles 6,900 (0.3%), Armenians 4,900 (0.2%), Azerbaijani people, Azerbaijanis 2,600 (0.1%), Tatars 2,500 (0.1%), Georgians 2,400 (0.1%), Moldovans 1,900 (0.1%). A 2015 study by the International Republican Institute found that 94% of Kyiv was ethnic Ukrainian, and 5% ethnic Russian. Most of the city's non-Slav population comprises Tatars, Peoples of the Caucasus, South Caucasians, and other peoples from the former Soviet Union.

Language statistics

Both Ukrainian and Russian are commonly spoken in the city; approximately 75% of Kyiv's population responded "Ukrainian" to the 2001 census question on their native language, roughly 25% responded "Russian".According to the official Ukrainian Census (2001), 2001 census data: According to a 2006 survey, Ukrainian is used at home by 23% of Kyivans, 52% use Russian, and 24% switch between both."Kiev: the city, its residents, problems of today, wishes for tomorrow", ''Zerkalo Nedeli'', 29 April – 12 May 2006
in Russian

in Ukrainian
In the 2003 sociological survey, when the question "What language do you use in everyday life?" was asked, 52% said "mostly Russian", 32% "both Russian and Ukrainian in equal measure", 14% "mostly Ukrainian", and 4.3% "exclusively Ukrainian". According to the census of 1897, of Kyiv's approximately 240,000 people approximately 56% of the population spoke the Russian language, 23% spoke the Ukrainian language, 13% spoke Yiddish, 7% spoke Polish and 1% spoke the Belarusian language. A 2015 study by the International Republican Institute found that the languages spoken at home in Kyiv were Ukrainian (27%), Russian (32%), and an equal combination of Ukrainian and Russian (40%).

Jews

The Jews of Kyiv are first mentioned in a 10th-century letter. The Jewish population remained relatively small until the nineteenth century. A series of pogroms was carried out in 1882, and another in 1905. On the eve of World War I, the city's Jewish population was over 81,000. In 1939 there were approximately 224,000 Jews in Kyiv, some of whom fled the city ahead of the Operation Barbarossa, German invasion of the Soviet Union that began in June 1941. On 29 and 30 September 1941, nearly 34,000 Kyivan Jews were massacred at Babi Yar by the Wehrmacht, SS, Ukrainian Auxiliary Police, and local collaborators. Jews began returning to Kyiv at the end of the war, but experienced another pogrom in September 1945. In the 21st century, Kyiv's Jewish community numbers about 20,000. There are two major synagogues in the city: the Great Choral Synagogue (Kyiv), Great Choral Synagogue and the Brodsky Choral Synagogue.

Cityscape

Modern Kyiv is a mix of the old (Kyiv preserved about 70 percent of more than 1,000 buildings built during 1907–1914)Forgotten Soviet Plans For Kyiv
, Kyiv Post (28 July 2011) and the new, seen in everything from the architecture to the stores and to the people themselves. When the capital of the Ukrainian SSR was moved from Kharkiv to Kyiv many new buildings were commissioned to give the city "the gloss and polish of a capital". In the discussions that centered on how to create a showcase city center, the current city center of Khreshchatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) were not the obvious choices. Some of the early, ultimately not materialised, ideas included a part of Pechersk, Lypky, European Square, Kyiv, European Square, and Mykhailivska Square. The plans of building massive monuments (of Vladimir Lenin and Stalin) were also abandoned, due to lack of money (in the 1930s–1950s) and because of Kyiv's hilly landscape. Experiencing rapid population growth between the 1970s and the mid-1990s, the city has continued its consistent growth after the turn of the millennium. As a result, Kyiv's central districts provide a dotted contrast of new, modern buildings among the pale yellows, blues, and greys of older apartments. Urban sprawl has gradually reduced, while population densities of suburbs has increased. The most expensive properties are in the Pechersk and Khreshchatyk areas. It is also prestigious to own a property in newly constructed buildings in the Kharkivskyi Masyv, Kharkivskyi neighborhood or Obolon Raion, Obolon along the Dnieper. Ukrainian independence at the turn of the millennium has heralded other changes. Western-style residential complexes, modern nightclubs, classy restaurants and prestigious hotels opened in the centre. And most importantly, with the easing of the visa rules in 2005, Ukraine is positioning itself as a prime tourist attraction, with Kyiv, among the other large cities, looking to profit from new opportunities. The centre of Kyiv has been cleaned up and buildings have been restored and redecorated, especially Khreshchatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Many historic areas of Kyiv, such as Andriivskyi Descent, have become popular street vendor locations, where one can find traditional Art of Ukraine, Ukrainian art, religious items, books, game sets (most commonly chess) as well as jewellery for sale. At the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009, Kyiv was the only Commonwealth of Independent States city to have been inscribed into the TOP30 European Green City Index (placed 30th). Kyiv's most famous historical architecture complexes are the Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), which are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Noteworthy historical architectural landmarks also include the Mariinskyi Palace (designed and constructed from 1745 to 1752, then reconstructed in 1870), several Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox churches such as St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, St. Michael's Cathedral, St Andrew's Church, Kyiv, St. Andrew's, St Volodymyr's Cathedral, St. Volodymyr's, St. Cyril's Monastery, Kyiv, St. Cyril's, the reconstructed Golden Gate, Kyiv, Golden Gate and others. One of Kyiv's widely recognized modern landmarks is the highly visible giant Mother Ukraine statue made of titanium standing at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War on the Right bank of the Dnieper. Other notable sites is the cylindrical Salut hotel, across from Glory Square and the eternal flame at the World War Two memorial Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Kyiv), Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the House with Chimaeras. Among Kyiv's best-known monuments are Mikhail Mikeshin's statue of Bohdan Khmelnytsky astride his horse near Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, St. Sophia Cathedral, the venerated Vladimir the Great (St. Vladimir), the Christianization of Kievan Rus', baptizer of Rus', overlooking the river above Podil from Saint Volodymyr Hill, the monument to Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv and Lybid, the legendary founders of the city at the Dnieper embankment. On Independence Square in the city centre, two monuments elevate two of the city protectors; the historic protector of Kyiv Michael Archangel atop a reconstruction of one of the old city's gates and a modern invention, the goddess-protector Berehynia atop a tall column. File:Golden Gate Kiev 2018 G1.jpg, Golden Gate File:Київ, Собор Успенський, Лаврська вул. 9.jpg, Holy Dormition Cathedral File:St. Sophia's.jpg, St. Sophia Cathedral File:St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kiev.jpg, St. Volodymyr's Cathedral File:80-391-9007 Kyiv St.Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery RB 18.jpg, St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery File:Pokrova Nunnery Kyiv.JPG, Pokrovsky Nunnery, Cathedral of St Nicholas, Pokrovsky Nunnery File:St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Cathedral, Kyiv 8.jpg, St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, Kyiv, St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Cathedral File:Kyiv, St Andrew church (2).jpg, Saint Andrew's Church File:Маріїнський палац в Києві.jpg, Mariinskyi Palace File:National Bank of Ukraine new.jpg, National Bank of Ukraine File:Будинок із химерами 4.jpg, "House with Chimaeras" File:Brodsky Synagogue.jpg, Brodsky Synagogue (Kyiv), Brodsky Choral Synagogue – Moorish Revival architecture

Culture

Kyiv was the historic cultural centre of the East Slavic civilization and a major cradle for the Christianization of Kievan Rus. Kyiv retained through centuries its cultural importance and even at times of relative decay, it remained the centre of primary importance of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Its sacred sites of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves) and the Saint Sophia Cathedral are attracting pilgrims for centuries and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remaining the primary religious centres as well as major tourist attractions. The above-mentioned sites are also part of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine collection. In September 2023, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee placed the Saint Sophia Cathedral and Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on the List of World Heritage in Danger. According to the committee, although the Ukrainian government has taken action to protect the sites, "optimal conditions are no longer met to fully guarantee the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and that it is threatened by potential danger due to the war”. The list is protected by the World Heritage Convention, 1972 UNESCO Convention, ratified by both Russia and Ukraine. Inclusion on the list is intended to mobilize urgent international support. Kyiv's theatres include the Kyiv Opera House, Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater, the Kyiv Academic Puppet Theatre, Kyiv Puppet Theater, October Palace, National Philharmonic of Ukraine and others. In 1946 Kyiv had four theatres, one opera house and one concert hall,The Ukraine
, Life (magazine), Life, 28 October 1946 but most tickets then were allocated to "privileged groups". Other significant cultural centres include the Dovzhenko Film Studios, and the Kyiv Circus. The most important of the :Museums in Kyiv, city's many museums are the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, the National Art Museum of Ukraine, National Art Museum, the Khanenko Museum, Museum of Western and Oriental Art, the PinchukArtCentre, Pinchuk Art Centre, the Kyiv Picture Gallery National Museum, and the Ivan Honchar Museum. In 2005, Kyiv hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, 50th annual Eurovision Song Contest and in 2017 the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, 62nd annual Eurovision Song Contest. Numerous songs and paintings were dedicated to the city. Some songs became part of Russian, Ukrainian and Jewish folklore. The most popular songs are "Yak tebe ne liubyty, Kyieve mii!, How not to love you, Kyiv of mine?" and "Kyiv Waltz". Renowned Ukrainian composer Oleksandr Bilash wrote an operetta called "Legend of Kyiv".

Attractions

It is said that one can walk from one end of Kyiv to the other in the summertime without leaving the shade of its many trees. Most characteristic are the Aesculus hippocastanum, horse-chestnuts (, ). Kyiv is known as a green city with M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, two botanical gardens and numerous large and small parks. The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War is 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, Venetsiiskyi (or Hydropark in Kyiv, 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. Other major islands include Trukhaniv Island, Trukhaniv, Muromets, and Dolobetskyi. The Victory Park (''Park Peremohy'') near Darnytsia subway station is a popular destination for strollers, joggers, and cyclists. Boating, fishing, and water sports are popular pastimes in Kyiv. 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 . The centre of Kyiv (Maidan Nezalezhnosti and Khreshchatyk, Khreshchatyk Street) becomes 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. Andriivskyi Descent is one of the best known historic streets and a major tourist attraction in Kyiv. The hill is the site of the Castle of Richard the Lionheart; the baroque-style St Andrew's Church, Kyiv, St Andrew's Church; the Mikhail Bulgakov Museum, home of the Kyiv-born writer Mikhail Bulgakov; the monument to Yaroslav the Wise, the Grand Prince of Kyiv and Veliky Novgorod, Novgorod; and numerous other monuments. A wide variety of farm produce is available in many of Kyiv's farmer markets with the Bessarabskyi Market in the very centre of the city being most famous. Each residential region has its own market, or ''rynok''. Here one will find table after table of individuals hawking everything imaginable: vegetables, fresh and smoked meats, fish, cheese, honey, dairy products such as milk and home-made ''Smetana (dairy product), smetana'' (sour cream), caviar, cut flowers, housewares, tools and hardware, and clothing. Each of the markets has its own unique mix of products with some markets devoted solely to specific wares such as automobiles, car parts, pets, clothing, flowers, and other things. At the city's southern outskirts, near the historic Pyrohiv village, there is an Open-air museum, outdoor museum officially called the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Folkways of Ukraine, Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine. It has an area of . This territory houses several "mini-villages" that represent by region the traditional rural architecture of Ukraine. Kyiv also has numerous recreational attractions like bowling alleys, go-cart tracks, paintball venues, billiard halls and even shooting ranges. The 100-year-old Kyiv Zoo is on 40 hectares and according to CBC "the zoo has 2,600 animals from 328 species".

Museums and galleries

Kyiv is home to some 40 different museums. In 2009 they recorded a total of 4.3 million visits. The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War is a memorial complex commemorating the Eastern Front of World War II in the hills on the Subdivisions of Kyiv#Historical neighborhoods, right-bank of the Dnieper in Pechersk, Kyiv, Pechersk. Kyiv Fortress is the 19th-century fortification buildings situated in Ukraine, Ukrainian capital Kyiv, that once belonged to western Russian fortresses. These structures (once a united complex) were built in the Pechersk and neighbourhoods by the Russian army. Some of the buildings are restored and turned into a museum, while others are in use in various military and commercial installations. The National Art Museum of Ukraine is a museum dedicated to Ukrainian art. The Golden Gate, Kyiv, Golden Gate is a historic gateway in the ancient city's walls. The name ''Zoloti Vorota'' (Golden Gate) is also used for a nearby theatre and Zoloti Vorota (Kyiv Metro), a station of the

. The small Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum acts as both a memorial and historical center devoted to the events surrounding the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and its effect on the Ukrainian people, the environment, and subsequent attitudes toward the safety of nuclear power as a whole.

Sports

Kyiv has many professional and amateur football clubs, including FC Dynamo Kyiv, Dynamo Kyiv, FC Arsenal Kyiv, Arsenal Kyiv and FC Obolon Kyiv but only Dynamo Kyiv play in the Ukrainian Premier League. Of these three, Dynamo Kyiv has had the most success over the course of its history. For example, up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the club won 13 Soviet Top League, USSR Championships, 9 USSR Cups, and 3 USSR Super Cups, thus making Dynamo the most successful club in the history of the Soviet Top League.Trophies of Dynamo
– Official website of Dynamo Kyiv Other prominent non-football sport clubs in the city include: the Sokil Kyiv ice hockey club and BC Budivelnyk basketball club. Both of these teams play in the highest Ukrainian leagues for their respective sports. Budivelnyk was founded in 1945, Sokil was founded in 1963, during the existence of the Soviet Union. Both these teams play their home games at the Palace of Sports (Kyiv), Kyiv Palace of Sports. Kyiv NSC Olimpiyskyi 5

During the 1980 Summer Olympics held in the Soviet Union, Kyiv held the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament at its Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex, Olympic Stadium, which was reconstructed specially for the event. From 1 December 2008, the stadium underwent a full-scale reconstruction in order to satisfy standards put in place by UEFA for hosting the UEFA Euro 2012, Euro 2012 football tournament; the opening ceremony took place in the presence of president Viktor Yanukovych on 8 October 2011, with the first major event being a Shakira concert which was specially planned to coincide with the stadium's re-opening during Euro 2012. Other notable sport stadiums/sport complexes in Kyiv include the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium, the Palace of Sports, Kyiv, Palace of Sports, among many others. Most Ukrainian national teams play their home international matches in Kyiv. The Ukraine national football team, for example, will play matches at the re-constructed Olympic Stadium from 2011.

Tourism

Since introducing a visa-free regime for EU-member states and Switzerland in 2005, Ukraine has seen a steady increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting the country. Before the 2008–2009 Ukrainian financial crisis, the average annual growth in the number of foreign visits in Kyiv was 23% over a three-year period. In 2009, a total of 1.6 million tourists stayed in Kyiv hotels, of whom almost 259,000 ( 16%) were foreigners. After UEFA Euro 2012, the city became the most popular destination for European tourists. A record number of 1.8 million foreign tourists was registered then along with about 2.5 million domestic tourists. More than 850,000 foreign tourists visited Kyiv in the first half of 2018, as compared to 660,000 tourists over the same period in 2013. As of 2018, the hotel occupancy rate from May to September averages 45–50%. Hostels and three-star hotels are approximately 90% full, four-star hotels 65–70%. Six five-star hotels average 50–55% occupancy. Ordinary tourists generally come from May to October, and business tourists from September to May.

City anthem

In 2014, the Kyiv city's council established the city's anthem.The Kyiv council approved the Kyiv city anthem (Київрада затвердила гімн Києва)
. Ukrayinska Pravda. 13 November 2014 It became a 1962 song, "Yak tebe ne liubyty, Kyieve mii!" (, roughly "How can I not love you, Kyiv of mine!").

City symbols

The Aesculus hippocastanum, horse chestnut tree is one of the symbols of Kyiv."Thujoy Khreshchatyk". Why Kyivans miss chestnuts and how they became a symbol of the capital
, Ukrayinska Pravda (29 May 2019) It was heavily present on the Coat of arms of Kyiv, city's coat of arms used from 1969 to 1995.

Economy

As with most Capital city, capital cities, Kyiv is a major administrative, cultural, and scientific centre of the country. It is the largest city in Ukraine in terms of both population and area and enjoys the highest levels of business activity. On 1 January 2010, there were around 238,000 list of company registers#Ukraine, business entities registered in Kyiv. Official figures show that between 2004 and 2008 Kyiv's economy outstripped the rest of the country's, growing by an annual average of 11.5%. Following the Great Recession, Kyiv's economy suffered a severe setback in 2009 with gross regional product contracting by 13.5% in real terms. Although a record high, the decline in activity was 1.6 percentage points smaller than that for the country as a whole. The economy in Kyiv, as in the rest of Ukraine, recovered somewhat in 2010 and 2011. Kyiv is a middle-income city, with prices comparable to many mid-size American cities (i.e., considerably lower than Western Europe). Because the city has a large and diverse economic base and is not dependent on any single industry or company, its unemployment rate has historically been relatively low – only 3.75% over 2005–2008. Indeed, even as the rate of joblessness jumped to 7.1% in 2009, it remained far below the national average of 9.6%. As of January 2022, the average monthly salary in Kyiv reached 21,347 Ukrainian hryvnia, UAH (€540) gross and 17,184 UAH (€430) net. Kyiv is the undisputed center of business and commerce of Ukraine and home to the country's largest companies, such as Naftogaz, Naftogaz Ukrainy, Energorynok and Kyivstar. In 2010, the city accounted for 18% of national retail sales and 24% of all construction activity. Real estate is one of the major forces in Kyiv's economy. Average prices of apartments are the highest in the country and among the highest in eastern Europe. Kyiv also ranks high in terms of commercial real estate and has Ukraine's tallest office buildings (such as Gulliver (building), Gulliver and Parus Business Centre, Parus) and some of Ukraine's biggest shopping malls (such as Dream Town and Ocean Plaza). In May 2011, Kyiv authorities presented a 15-year development strategy which calls for attracting as much as EUR82 billion of foreign direct investment, foreign investment by 2025 to modernize the city's transport and utilities infrastructure and make it more attractive for tourists. * – data not available; ** – calculated at annual average official exchange rate; *** – International Labour Organization, ILO methodology (% of workforce).

Industry

Primary Industry (economics), industries in Kyiv include public utility, utilities – i.e., electricity, gas and water supply (26% of total Output (economics), industrial output), manufacture of food, beverages and tobacco products (22%), chemical industry, chemical (17%), mechanical engineering (13%) and manufacture of paper and paper products, including publishing, printing and reproduction of recorded media (11%). The Institute of Oil Transportation is headquartered here.

Manufacture

* Kuznia na Rybalskomu, naval production * Antonov Serial Production Plant (former Aviant), airplanes manufacturing * Aeros, small aircraft production * Kyiv Roshen Factory, confectionery * Arsenal Factory, Kyiv Arsenal (former arms manufacturer), specializes in production of optic-precision instruments * Obolon (company), Obolon, brewery * Kyiv Aircraft Repair Plant 410, repair factory at Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany), Zhuliany Airport

Education and science

Scientific research

Scientific research is conducted in many institutes of higher education and, additionally, in many research institutes affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Kyiv is home to Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 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.

University education

Kyiv hosts many universities, the major ones being Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, National Technical University "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, 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 Kyiv 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.

Secondary education

There are about 530 general secondary schools and about 680 nursery schools and kindergartens in Kyiv. Additionally, there are evening schools for adults, specialist technical schools, and the Evangel Theological Seminary.

Public libraries

There are many libraries in the city, with the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, Vernadsky National Library, which is Ukraine's main academic library and scientific information centre, as well as one of the world's largest national library, national libraries, being the largest and most important one. The National Library is affiliated with the Academy of Sciences in so far as it is a deposit library and thus serves as the academy's archives' store. The national library is the world's foremost repository of Jewish music, Jewish folk music recorded on Phonograph cylinder, Edison wax cylinders. Their Collection of Jewish Musical Folklore (1912–1947) was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2005.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Local public transport

Local public transportation in Kyiv includes the Metro, buses and marshrutka, minibuses, trolleybuses, trams, Taxicab, taxi and Kyiv Funicular, funicular. There is also an Kyiv Urban Electric Train, intra-city ring railway service. The publicly owned and operated Kyiv Metro is the fastest, the most convenient and affordable network that covers most, but not all, of the city. The Metro is expanding towards the city limits to meet growing demand, having three lines with a total length of and 51 stations (some of which are renowned architectural landmarks). The Metro carries around 1.422 million passengers daily accounting for 38% of the Kyiv's public transport load. In 2011, the total number of trips exceeded 519 million. The historic tram system was the first electric tramway in the former Russian Empire and the third one in Europe after the Trams in Berlin, Berlin Straßembahn and the Budapest tramway. The tram system consists of of track, including two Kyiv Light Rail, Rapid Tram lines, served by 21 routes with the use of 523 tram cars. Once a well maintained and widely used method of transport, the system is now gradually being phased out in favor of buses and trolleybuses. The Kyiv Funicular was constructed during 1902–1905. It connects the historic Old Kyiv, Uppertown, and the lower commercial neighborhood of

through the steep Saint Volodymyr Hill overseeing the Dnieper River. The line consists of two stations. All public road transport (except for some minibuses) is operated by the united Kyivpastrans municipal company. It is heavily subsidized by the city. The Kyiv public transport system, except for taxi, uses a simple flat rate tariff system regardless of distance traveled: tickets or tokens must be purchased each time a vehicle is boarded. Digital ticket system is already established in Kyiv Metro, with plans for other transport modes. The cost of one ride is far lower than in Western Europe. The taxi market in Kyiv is expansive but not regulated. In particular, the taxi fare per kilometer is not regulated. There is a fierce competition between private taxi companies.

Roads and bridges

Kyiv represents the focal point of Ukraine's "national roads" system, thus linked by road to all cities of the country. international E-road network, European routes Tabliczka E40

and

intersect in Kyiv. There are eight Dnieper bridges and dozens of grade separation, grade-separated intersections in the city. Several new intersections are under construction. There are plans to build a full-size, fully grade-separated ring road around Kyiv. In 2009, Kyiv's roads were in poor technical condition and maintained inadequately. Traffic congestion, Traffic jams and lack of parking space are growing problems for all road transport services in Kyiv.

Air transport

Kyiv is served by two international passenger airports: the Boryspil International Airport, Boryspil Airport away, and the smaller, municipally owned Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany), Zhuliany Airport on the southern outskirts of the city. There are also the Hostomel Airport, Hostomel cargo airport and additional three operating airfields facilitating the Antonov, Antonov aircraft manufacturing company and general aviation.

Railways

Railways are Kyiv's main mode of intracity- and suburban transportation. The city has a developed railroad infrastructure including a long-distance passenger station, 6 cargo stations, depots, and repairing facilities. However, this system still fails to meet the demand for passenger service. Particularly, the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station is the city's only long-distance passenger terminal (''vokzal''). Construction is underway for turning the large Darnytsia railway station on the left-bank part of Kyiv into a long-distance passenger hub, which may ease traffic at the central station. Bridges in Kyiv, Bridges over the Dnieper River are another problem restricting the development of city's railway system. Presently, only one rail bridge out of two is available for intense train traffic. A new combined rail-auto bridge is under construction, as a part of Darnytsia project. In 2011, the Kyiv city administration established the new Urban Train for Kyiv. This service runs at standard 4- to 10-minute intervals throughout the day and follows a circular route around the city centre, which allows it to serve many of Kyiv's inner suburbs. Interchanges between the Kyiv Metro and Fast Tram exist at many of the urban train's station stops. Suburban 'Kyiv City Express' trains (colloquially known as ''Elektrichka, elektrychka'') are serviced by the publicly owned Ukrainian Railways. The suburban train service is fast, and unbeatably safe in terms of traffic accidents. But the trains are not reliable, as they may fall significantly behind schedule, may not be safe in terms of crime, and the ''elektrychka'' cars are poorly maintained and overcrowded in rush hours. There are nine ''elektrychka'' directions from Kyiv: * Bila Tserkva – Uzyn * Fastiv * Klavdiievo-Tarasove, Klavdiievo * Myronivka – Bohuslav * Nizhyn * Ukrainka, Kyiv Oblast, Ukrainka * Vasylkiv * Vyshhorod * Yahotyn More than a dozen of ''elektrychka'' stops are within the city allowing residents of different neighborhoods to use the suburban trains.

Energy

(formerly Kyivenergo) is the electric power distribution network operator for Kyiv, owned by oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. it had: * 12,038 km of power transmission lines with a voltage of 0.4–110 kV * 64 electrical substation, substations with a voltage of 35–110 kV * 243 switchgears and 3728 transformer substations at 10 kV operates a centralized heating system, which provides heating and hot water to customers through a network of pipes that distribute hot water from centralized heating plants to buildings throughout the city. It operates a 2700 km network, two of the largest cogeneration, combined heat and power plants in Ukraine CHP-5 and CHP-6, as well as the only waste incineration plant operating in Ukraine. In line with the EU Third Energy Package, since 2019 state energy policy abandoned the Rotterdam plus system and has required transmission system operator (TSO) and regional utilities unbundling in order to separate electricity distribution and retail electricity supply.

Water and sanitation

The national government has delegated responsibility for water and sanitation services to local authorities. is a joint-stock company#Ukraine, private joint-stock company that provides such services to Kyiv. The length of water supply networks is 4231 km, of which 1798 km are dilapidated. The length of sewage networks is 2662 km, of which 830 km are dilapidated.

Twin towns – sister cities

Kyiv is Sister city, twinned with: * Ankara, Turkey (1993) * Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (2001) * Astana, Kazakhstan (1998) * Athens, Greece (1996) * Baku, Azerbaijan (1997) * Beijing, China (1993) * Berlin, Germany (2023) * Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (1997) * Brasília, Brazil (2000) * Bratislava, Slovakia (1969) * Brussels, Belgium (1997) * Bucharest, Romania (2022) * Buenos Aires, Argentina (2000) * Chicago, United States (1991) * Chișinău, Moldova (1993) * Copenhagen, Denmark (2023) * Edinburgh, Scotland (1989) * Florence, Italy (1967) * Jakarta, Indonesia (2005) * Kraków, Poland (1993) * Kyoto, Japan (1971) * Leipzig, Germany (1956) * Lima, Peru (2005) * Mexico City, Mexico (1997) * Munich, Germany (1989) * Odense Municipality, Odense, Denmark (1989) * Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan (2002) * Pretoria, South Africa (1993) * Riga, Latvia (1998) * Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2000) * Santiago, Chile (1998) * Sofia, Bulgaria (1997) * Suzhou, Jiangsu, Suzhou, China (2005) * Tallinn, Estonia (1994) * Tampere, Finland (1954) * Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1998) * Tbilisi, Georgia (1999) * Toulouse, France (1975) * Vilnius, Lithuania (1991) * Warsaw, Poland (1994) * Wuhan, China (1990)

Other cooperation agreements

* Belgrade, Serbia (2002) * Helsinki, Finland * Jerusalem, Israel (2000) * Lisbon, Portugal * Paris, France * Rome, Italy * Stockholm, Sweden * Toronto, Canada (1991) * Tripoli, Libya (2001) * Vienna, Austria * Yerevan, Armenia (1995)

Notable people

Arts, literature, and entertainment

* Leonid Bronevoy (1928–2017), Soviet and Russian actor * Mikhail Bulgakov (1891–1940), Soviet writer, medical doctor and playwright * Eugenia Chuprina (born 1971), poet, novelist, writer and playwright * Daniel the Traveller, 12th-century travel writer from the

* Ilya Ehrenburg (1891–1967), Soviet writer, journalist, translator and cultural figure * André Grabar (1896–1990), historian of Romanesque art and the art of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Bulgarian Empire * Selma Gubin (1903–1974), Russian-born American artist * Dmytro Hnatyuk (1925–2016), Soviet and Ukrainian opera singer * Olha Haidamaka (born 1990), Ukrainian artist * Milton Horn (1906–1995), Russian-American sculptor * Vladimir Horowitz (1903–1989), American classical pianist * Viktor Ivanov (film director), Viktor Ivanov (1909–1981), Soviet film director * Milla Jovovich (born 1975), American actress * Sonya Koshkina (born 1985), Ukrainian journalist, editor-in-chief * Kateryna Kukhar (born 1982), prima ballerina * Danylo Knyshuk (born 1978), Ukrainian sculptor * Viacheslav Kryshtofovych (born 1947), Ukrainian film director and actor * Ana Layevska (born 1982), Ukrainian-Mexican actress * Boris Levit-Broun (born 1950), Russian poet, writer, and artist * Serge Lifar (1905–1986), French ballet dancer * Kazimir Malevich (1879–1935), pioneer of geometric abstract art and the originator of the avant-garde Suprematism, Suprematist movement * Natalya Marchenkova (born 1948), animator and animation director, born in Kyiv * Natalia Matsak (born 1982), ballet dancer * Galyna Moskvitina (born 1963), painter * Ivan Putrov (born 1980), dancer, former Principal with The Royal Ballet in London * Maksym Petrenko (1983–2022), Ukrainian writer, scientist, inventor, educator, soldier * Yudif Grigorevna Rozhavskaya (1923–1982), composer and pianist * Yuriy Rybchynskyi (born 1945), poet and playwright * Natalya Semenchenko (born 1976), professor, writer, and publicist * Lev Shestov (1866–1938), Russian Existentialism, existentialist philosopher * Oksana Shvets (1955–2022), Ukrainian actress * Kostiantyn Stohnyi (born 1968), journalist * Alexander Vertinsky (1889–1957), singer, composer, poet, cabaret artist and actor * Ludmila Anatolievna Yaroshevskaya (1906–1975), composer * Artemy Vedel (1767–1808), composer * Sergei Udovik (1956), publisher, photographer and writer

Science and technology

* Nikolai Amosov (1913–2002), Soviet and Ukrainian heart surgeon and inventor * Zino Davidoff (1906–1994), Swiss premium tobacco manufacturer; known as "King of Cigars" * Jan Koum (born 1976), American computer programmer, CEO and co-founder of WhatsApp * Viktor Kaspruk, (born 1955), political scientist * Alexander Ostrowski (1893–1986), mathematician * Borys Paton (1918–2020), scientist, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine * Igor Sikorsky (1889–1972), Russian-American aviation pioneer * Svetlana Zaginaichenko (1957–2015), physicist

Politics

* Golda Meir (1898–1978), Israeli politician, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel * Henry P. Melnikow, economic consultant to unions involved in labor

Religion

* Nikolai Berdyaev (1874–1948), Russian Orthodox religious and political philosopher * Jonathan Markovitch (born 1967), Chief Rabbi of Kyiv * Petro Mohyla (1596–1647), Metropolitan bishop of Kyiv from 1633 * Mikhail Morgulis (1941–2021), Russian-language writer, editor and theologian * Moses of Kiev, 12th century Talmudist * Theophan Prokopovich (1681–1736), theologian, poet, mathematician and philosopher

Military conflicts

* Eugeniusz Horbaczewski (1917–1944), Polish fighter pilot * Yuliia Paievska, Yuliia "Taira" Paievska (born 1968), founder of "Taira's Angels"

Sport

* Oleg Blokhin (born 1952), Ukrainian football player * Oleg Ladik (born 1971), Ukrainian-born Canadian Olympic wrestler * Valeriy Lobanovskyi (1939–2002), Soviet and Ukrainian football coach * Oleksandr Saliuk Jr. (born 1978), Ukrainian rally driver * Andriy Shevchenko (born 1976), Ukrainian footballer * Igor Slyusar (born 1989), Ukrainian professional ice hockey player * Igor Skuz (born 1976), Ukrainian racing driver

Other

(), Rurik dynasty, Rurikid prince who ruled 882–912 * Olga of Kiev (), a regent of

for her son Sviatoslav I, Sviatoslav from 945 until 960 * Nicholas Pritzker, scion of the Pritzker Family * Vladimir the Great (), Grand Prince of Kiev and ruler of

from 980 to 1015 * Israel Markovich Brodsky (1823–1888), businessman and philanthropist

Honour

* Kyiv Peninsula in Graham Land, Antarctica, is named after the city of Kyiv.Kyiv Peninsula.
SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica.

Notes

References

External links

Київська міська державна адміністрація
– official web portal of the Kyiv City State Administration *
Kyiv—Official Tourist Guide
{{Authority control Kyiv, Capitals in Europe Cities with special status in Ukraine Holy cities Populated places established in the 5th century Magdeburg rights Holocaust locations in Ukraine Populated places on the Dnieper in Ukraine Oblast centers in Ukraine Kyiv metropolitan area

Name

History

Founding

Russian suzerainty

Soviet era

Independence

Environment

Geography

Climate

Legal status, local government and politics

Legal status and local government

Politics

Subdivisions

Traditional subdivision

Formal subdivision

Demographics

Historical population

Ethnic composition

Language statistics

Jews

Cityscape

Culture

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Sports

Tourism

City anthem

City symbols

Economy

Industry

Manufacture

Education and science

Scientific research

University education

Secondary education

Public libraries

Infrastructure

Transportation

Local public transport

Roads and bridges

Air transport

Railways

Energy

Water and sanitation

Twin towns – sister cities

Other cooperation agreements

Notable people

Arts, literature, and entertainment

Science and technology

Politics

Religion

Military conflicts

Sport

Other

Honour

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links