Play

Kyiv

Capital of UkraineKyiv lies in the north-central part of Ukraine, on both banks of the Dnieper river, which flows south through the city. The older western part sits on wooded hills.

Why it's the capital

Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe and was a capital of Kievan Rus', a medieval state. It became the capital of Soviet Ukraine in 1934, and Ukraine declared its independence in the city on 24 August 1991.

Fun facts

  1. Legend says three brothers, Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv, and their sister Lybid founded the city, which is named after Kyi, the eldest.
  2. St Sophia Cathedral was built in the 11th century under Yaroslav the Wise and keeps early mosaics and frescoes; it joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990.
  3. The Kyiv Monastery of the Caves was founded by Anthony of Kiev in the 11th century.

Finding it on the globe

Follow the Dnieper upstream from the Black Sea toward Belarus: Kyiv sits on the river in the north of Ukraine.

Sources: Wikipedia: Kyiv, Wikipedia: Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, Wikipedia: Dnieper