2009

Kiev is the capital and largest city of Ukraine. Located on the Dnieper River, it is the center of the Kyiv agglomeration. Separate administrative-territorial unit of Ukraine; cultural, political, socio-economic, transport, scientific and religious center of the country. Kyiv is the administrative center of the Kyiv region, although it is not part of it, having a special legal status. Located in the north of Ukraine. The seventh largest city in Europe after Istanbul, Moscow, London, St. Petersburg, Berlin and Madrid.


The logo of Kyiv, in translation - "the city where everything begins"
Throughout its history, Kyiv has been the capital of Polyany, Kievan Rus, the Kyiv Principality, the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Ukrainian People's Republic of Soviets, the Ukrainian State, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and since 1991, independent Ukraine. It was also the center of the ancient Kyiv Metropolis and continues to be so for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) claiming succession from it. It houses the governing structures of the Crimean Platform, GUAM, STCU, PANIA and MAAN (in 1993-2017). Due to its significance as the historical center of Russia, the city is called the "mother of Russian cities"; by virtue of religious significance - "New Jerusalem"; due to the mass heroism of the population in the Great Patriotic War, it bears the highest degree of distinction of the USSR “Hero City”.

Kyiv is home to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the Church of the Savior on Berestovo, the St. Sophia Cathedral and related monastery buildings that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as the Astronomical Observatory of Kyiv University, St. Andrew's and St. Cyril's Churches, included in its preliminary list. The Kyiv TV Tower is the tallest free-standing metal structure in the world.