Ukraine

Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, located on the Dnipro River. It became the official capital in 1934 (replacing Kharkiv) and remained so after independence in 1991; it houses the president, parliament (Verkhovna Rada), and central government. Historically, Kyiv was the heart of Kyivan Rus’, with landmarks like Saint Sophia Cathedral and the Golden Gate, and its Maidan square has anchored major civic movements. By contrast, Lviv is a western cultural hub, Odesa a Black Sea port, and Kharkiv an industrial center and former capital. Memory tip: Kyiv is the key city—KYIv = KeY cIty of Ukraine. Also note the preferred Ukrainian spelling “Kyiv,” not the older “Kiev.”