Kiev

Kiev (Ukrainian: {{Audio|Kyiv.ogg|????}}, Kyiv; Russian: {{Audio|ru-Kiev.ogg|?????}}, Kiev; also spelled Kyiv (see also Cities' alternative names), is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper river. As of 2003, Kiev officially had 2,642,486 inhabitants, although the large number of unregistered migrants would probably raise this figure to about three million. Administratively, Kiev is a national-level subordinated municipality, independent from surrounding Kiev Oblast. Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions, world-famous museums and art institutions. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including a Kiev Metro system.

Related Topics:
Ukrainian - Russian - Cities' alternative names - Capital - Ukraine - Dnieper - As of 2003 - Migrant - Municipality - Kiev Oblast - Eastern Europe - Higher education - Museum - Art - Public transport - Kiev Metro

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During its history Kiev, one of the oldest cities in the Eastern Europe, passed through several stages of great prominence and relative obscurity. Founded probably in the 5th century, a trading post in the land of Early East Slavs, the city gradually acquired eminence as the center of the East Slavic civilization, in the tenth to twelfth centuries a political and cultural capital of Kievan Rus'. Completely destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1238, the city lost most of its influence for the centuries to come. It was a provincial capital of marginal importance in the outskirts of the territories controlled by its powerful neighbors: the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Muscovite Russia, later the Russian Empire. The city prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. After the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution (1917), from 1921 Kiev was an important city of Soviet Ukraine, and, since 1934, its capital. During World War II, the city was destroyed again, almost completely, but quickly recovered in the post-war years becoming the third most important city of the USSR. It now remains the capital of Ukraine, independent since 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Related Topics:
Its history - 5th century - Early East Slavs - East Slavic civilization - Tenth - Twelfth centuries - Kievan Rus' - Mongol invasion - 1238 - Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - Muscovite Russia - Russian Empire - Industrial revolution - 19th century - Russian Revolution - 1917 - 1921 - Soviet Ukraine - 1934 - World War II - USSR - 1991 - Collapse of the Soviet Union

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