Kiev

Location

Kiev is the capital of Ukraine and of the Kiev region. It is a port city on the Dnieper River.

Population

approx 2,600,000 (est 1990)

Economic Activity

Kiev is Ukraine's largest city and a leading center of industry, commerce and culture. The city's major industries are metallurgy, the manufacture of machinery, machine tools, rolling stock, chemicals, building materials, textiles and food processing.

Overview

Kiev is one of the oldest cities in Northern Europe. It existed as a commercial center as early as the 5th century A.D. and was a settlement of Slavic peoples that benefited from is location on an important trade route between Constantinople and Scandinavia. In 882 the Varangians under the leadership of Oleg established themselves there. Under Olegs successors the city became the capital of the first Russian State (Kievan Rus) and also an early center of Russian Christianity and grew to become one of Europe's leading commercial and cultural centers. In 1240 the city was severely damaged by the invading Mongols and until the 14th century the city was made to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. After this the city passed to Lithuania, which at this time was united with Poland (1569). The city became a center of Ukrainian learning and scholarship spurred on by the establishment of the Kievan Academy in 1632. In 1648 Kiev became a center of a newly independent Ukrainian state, when Ukrainian Cossacks under Bohdan Chmielnicki rose against Poland. The city was under Russian control in 1686 when union between Ukraine and Russia was effected. In 1918 Kiev was proclaimed the capital of independent Ukraine, but shortly thereafter it was occupied by German, White Russian, Polish and Soviet troops during a civil war (1918 to 1920). In 1934 Kiev became the capital of the Ukrainian SSR. During World War II the city was heavily damaged and reconstruction was not completed until about two decades later. The Russians call Kiev the "Mother of Cities" and is known as one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Some notable landmarks include the 11th century Golden Gate, the 11th century Cathedral of Saint Sophia, the Uspensky Cathedral, the 11th century Lavra Cave Monastery, the 9th century Saint Vladimir Cathedral, the University of Kiev and the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.