Kiev is the capital of Ukraine. The city was named after Kyj, one of four legendary founders of the city (brothers Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv and sister Lybid'). "Kiev" means the city of Kyj. Kiev is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. It used to be the capital of the great and powerful Kievan Rus, the mother of all Russian cities. The city is believed to have been founded in the 5th century as a trading post in the land of Early East Slavs. It gradually acquired eminence as the center of the East Slavic civilization, becoming in the tenth to twelfth centuries a political and cultural capital of Rus', a medieval East Slavic state. Kiev was completely destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1240, the city lost most of its influence for the centuries to come. The long road to the independence of Ukraine is connected with Cossack military campaigns. In 1648-1654 Cossack armies, headed by Hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the leader of Ukraine's Cossack, waged several wars to liberate Ukraine. In 1648, when the Ukrainian Cossacks rose against Poland, Kiev became for a brief period the center of the Ukrainian State in 1648, when the Ukrainian Cossacks rose against Poland. But soon, confronted by the armies of Polish and Lithuanian feudal lords, Bogdan Khmelnitsky sought the protection of the Russian Tsar in the Treaty of Pereyaslavl. After Ukraine's union with Russia in 1654, however, the city was acquired by Moscow. During a long period of domination by the Russian Empire Ukraine in the 17th and 18th centuries managed to preserve and enjoy some of its rich political, economic, cultural, and religious achievements. The city prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. After the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution of 1917, from 1921 onwards Kiev was an important city of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and, since 1934, its capital. During World War II, Kiev again suffered significant damage, but quickly recovered in the post-war years becoming the third most important city of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Today Kiev is the capital of Ukraine. It is full of modern buildings and street lights, but one still can feel the spirit of the ancient, beautiful, mysterious City. From the very beginning people used to treat Kiev with respect because it is one of those cities that have soul.
The city prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. After the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution of 1917, from 1921 onwards Kiev was an important city of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and, since 1934, its capital. During World War II, Kiev again suffered significant damage, but quickly recovered in the post-war years becoming the third most important city of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Today Kiev is the capital of Ukraine. It is full of modern buildings and street lights, but one still can feel the spirit of the ancient, beautiful, mysterious City. From the very beginning people used to treat Kiev with respect because it is one of those cities that have soul.
Today Kiev is the capital of Ukraine. It is full of modern buildings and street lights, but one still can feel the spirit of the ancient, beautiful, mysterious City. From the very beginning people used to treat Kiev with respect because it is one of those cities that have soul.