About Kyiv

Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, with a history dating back over 1,500 years. According to legend, it was founded around 482 CE by four siblings of Eastern Slavic origin, with the city named after the eldest brother, Kiy[1][3]. Kyiv became the political and cultural center of Kievan Rus', the first East Slavic state, under Varangian rule starting in the late 9th century, particularly flourishing under rulers such as Prince Vladimir Sviatoslavich, who Christianized the region in 988, and Yaroslav the Wise, who made Kyiv a prosperous city renowned for its churches, markets, and cultural importance[1][2]. Kyiv suffered major destruction during the Mongol invasion of 1240, which ended the dominance of Kievan Rus'[1][2]. Over subsequent centuries, Kyiv experienced periods of control by various powers, including Imperial Russia, under which it underwent significant Russification and industrialization in the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming a major trade and transportation hub in the Russian Empire[2][4]. The city played a central role in Ukrainian nationalism and revolutionary activity during the early 20th century, serving as the capital of briefly independent Ukrainian states amidst the turmoil of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and subsequent conflicts[4]. Today, Kyiv covers approximately 780 square kilometers on both banks of the Dnieper River and retains many historic architectural monuments such as the 11th-century St. Sophia Cathedral and the Baroque St. Andrew’s Church[5]. Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, Kyiv has been the political, economic, and cultural heart of the country. In recent years, especially during the ongoing conflict with Russia, Kyiv has been a frontline city symbolizing Ukrainian resilience. Despite wartime conditions, the city maintains a vibrant atmosphere with strong security measures and a developing wartime tourism sector that includes memorials and exhibits related to the conflict[6].

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