History of Kyiv

Under the reign of Cossacks and Moscow

After Kyiv was conquerred by army of Bohdan Khmelnytsky it became the centre of Cossack’s Kyiv Regiment from 1649. From the beginning of Russian-Polish War in 1654, Kyiv became dependent from Moscow. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1679, Cossacks finished the reconstruction and unification of Old Kyiv and Pechersk forts, and the Pechersk Fortress was founded. In times of Kyiv’s Metropolitan Petro Mohyla (1633 – 1647), the full reconstruction and renovation of Saint Sophia of Kyiv was completed. In XVIII century Saint Andrew Church and Mariinskyi Palace were constructed, and became new symbols of Kyiv.

Late Russian Empire

After the dissolve of Army of Zaporizhia in 1781, Kyiv became the administrative centre of Kyiv Province of the Russian Empire. The first University opened its doors in 1834, and in 1898, the first engineering university, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, was founded. Kyiv Railway Station opened in 1870, electric trams appeared in 1893, Uptown and Podil were connected by the funicular in 1905. Along with positive moments of city’s peaceful development, Kievans became unrest and supported the wish of majority of Ukrainians to create the independent state in times of the Revolution of 1917-1920. However, the battle was defeated and final strengthening of the Soviet power with right of Ukrainian Republic to be part of USSR.

Soviet times

At the beginning of soviet period plants and industry were reconstructed. Otherwise, the anti-religious policy ruined a lot of churches and cathedrals. In 1930s mass repressions were realized by Soviet powers. During the World War II Kyiv had been occupied by Nazi troops from 1941 to 1943. The Liberation of Kyiv left 417.000 soldiers died and ruined city, whereas the population decreased to 180.000. After the war Kyiv had been reconstructed. The first computer in USSR was created in Kyiv in 1950. The metro opened in 1960 and the population of Kyiv raised over 1 million at those time. City grew fast, new districts appeared on the Left Bank of Dnieper.

Independence

After the collapse of USSR in 1991, Kyiv became the capital of independent Ukraine. Because of political, social and economic crisis before those events, the economic situation in the country worsened and lead to decrease of the production and degradation of enterprises. A lot of gangs appeared in Kyiv, with next division of spheres of power. This situation was current until the end of 1990s. On the other side, the religious life in the city was renovated, collapsed churches were reconstructed. Later, the situation stabilized, city grew rapidly, new metro stations and airport terminals were constructed. Many events of worldwide importants took place in modern Kyiv. City was and is the centre of will of Ukrainian people, protest and manifestations are usual here, as Orange Revolution in 2004 and Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014. Nowadays, Kyiv is a multinational city with the rich history and cultural heritage of its ancestors. When you will visit Kyiv, you will be pleased with its beauty and hospitality.

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