We spent a few days in Kiev (Kyiv) in Ukraine to see the 2018 Champions League final in June 2018. We knew little about Kiev or Ukraine, here are a few things we saw and learnt.
Metro stop nearest to our hotel – Universytet (Університет) – the style of “M” is the same as in Moscow – all Soviet state’s metro probably have the same logo
The National Opera House (Національний академічний театр опери та балету України ім. Т. Г. Шевченка) – opera.com.ua – we saw a ballet there
Independence Monument located on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) built in 2001, and to its right, the National Tchaikovsky Music Academy.
Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) – Ukraine has been independent since 1991, splitting from the Soviet Union (USSR).
Orange Revolution started here in late 2004 where hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in the square and nearby streets, and pitched tents for several weeks, protesting against electoral fraud. It led to an additional round of presidential elections which were won by the opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko. Victor Yanukovych who lost the election served as Prime Minister.
The Ukrainian presidential election of 2010 was Ukraine’s fifth presidential election since declaring independence and was won by Viktor Yanukovych beating the then Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
The square was the site of Euromaidan (Євромайдан) protests beginning in November 2013, progressing to violent clashes, fires, and ending in the ousting of the elected Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. We created an earlier post (click here) on the extravagant residence of this ex-President just outside of Kiev.
The next presidential election is set for 31 March 2019.
TsUM (ЦУМ), a high-end Russian department store – tsum.ua
Champions League Final celebratory street fair on Khreshchatyk street next to Independence Square
NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium where the final game was played – Read Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1
Stalin empire style built between 1930-1955 – one of the “Stalinkas” on Khreshchatyk street – the star is no longer red – it is now in blue and yellow – colors of the national flag
Museum “Memorial to Holodomor victims” (Музей «Меморіал жертв Голодомору») – opened in 2008 on the right bank of the Dnieper river adjacent to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
Holodomor literally translated from Ukrainian means “death by hunger” – up to 4 million Ukrainians died between 1932-1933.
Actions by the Soviet Union such as rejection of outside aid, confiscation of all household foodstuffs, and restriction of population movement confer intent, defining the famine as genocide.
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra (the cave monastery) stocks copper roof top crosses for churches around the country. See later post for details.
The Motherland Monument (Батьківщина-Мати) – built by the Soviets, now controversial in modern independent Ukraine, allowed to remain standing because it is a part of a Museum on the history of Ukraine in World War II.
St. Andrew’s Church (Андріївська церква) next to a large and lively street market where we spent a nice afternoon.
Ukrainian driving licenses of the famous – in case you cannot read the names – E Macron, Mr Bean, Tom Cruise are there.
More posts on Kyiv to come.