Independence Square, formerly Maidan Nezalezhnosti, in central Kyiv.
I feared last night that in posting photographs only of Lviv, and for describing Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv as a “mixture of old and new” (in my book, a quasi-dismissal), I might be properly rebuked, and so I have been. A friend writes:
.
Bombing Kyiv is comparable to bombing Venice or Paris. There has not been enough coverage of this immense loss that the Ukrainians are suffering of their centuries of heritage. I’m glad you have covered Lviv, please do more coverage..
Kyiv – Kiev under the late Soviet era – is now under attack by Russian forces unleashed by Vladimir Putin. The capital’s defenders have bravely slowed and even halted the attack outside of Kyiv as a lengthy convoy of military equipment tries to deploy around the embattled city. As I pointed out in “Holding our breath for Lviv” last night, “the beauty of Ukraine, and especially of its cities, girds the courage of its soldiers and citizens in the defense of their independence and sovereignty.”
.
So here are some photographs of Kyiv drawn from the internet, mostly from websites devoted to touring the Ukrainian capital.
.
Architecture Here and There 
… beautiful city with such historic value and community personality … versus a deranged henchman and his edict followers … where is the world … the critics of such evil…… GOD Help Them …..
LikeLike
I’m glad you’ve come to realize how incredibly historic Kyiv is. I was there in late 1992, not long after the country gained independence, to research for an article for Historic Preservation magazine on the wealth of historic sites in the capital city and elsewhere in Ukraine. I also covered Lviv, which is very different from Kyiv; the former is classic Austro-Hungarian Empire while the latter is much more Russian in its architecture and general appearance. And its landmarks are older, reflecting the history of a city that flourished long before Moscow became dominant. My article (“Ukrainian Dawn”) is the cover story for the March/April 1993 issue of Historic Preservation, covering not only the wealth of historic places but also the people who were then documenting and preserving it. I met some talented scholars, preservationists, and writers on my trip through Ukraine. They were very optimistic over their nation’s future, and I can only guess what they are feeling — and having to endure — at this moment.
LikeLike
That distinction, Arnold, between Russia and Austro-Hungarian derived buildings is immediately apparent in the online shots I used in my last two posts, once one is aware of it. Very interesting. I imagine the people you met are feeling pretty trepidatious, though in the last few days there has been very little reporting on Russian troop movements or the Ukrainian defense. I am hopeful that Putin bit off more than he can chew. Unfortunately, all we can do is watch and wait.
LikeLike