The capital of Ukraine, located on the expanses of the Dnieper, is rich in its cultural heritage. The symbol of Kiev is chestnuts, which adorn with the beauty of flowering in May, and sometimes in autumn. Most of the memorial compositions are located in the central part of the capital. Most of them make the Pechersky and Shevchenkovsky regions more picturesque. There are more than 350 monuments in the city.
Kiev is famous for its monuments, some of them even recognize the capital. Since independence, sculptures dedicated to figures of Ukrainian culture began to appear. The city houses not only classical monuments that remind residents and tourists of important historical events. Also here you can see a large number of non-standard sculptures, some of which help in the fulfillment of wishes.
Historical and modern monuments of Kiev
List of the most interesting monuments and sculptures in the city.
Monument of Independence of Ukraine
The column is 42 meters high, which is located in the central square of the city. The creator of the idea is Anatoly Kushch. The monument was erected in 2001 during the reconstruction of the square, executed in the spirit of the Ukrainian baroque. The column itself is covered with Italian white marble, the inside is a reinforced concrete frame. Above is the girl Oranta, dressed in a national Ukrainian outfit, holding a viburnum branch in her hands.
"Motherland"
The figure of a woman, which is visible from all points of the capital and is located on the banks of the Dnieper. The height of the monument is 102 meters. The monument is made of stainless steel and weighs 450 tons. The cultural heritage was opened in 1981 in honor of the Victory Day. Motherland is part of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War. Inside the monument there are two observation platforms: "Landscape" and "Extreme". The author of the sculpture is Vasily Borodai, the architect is Yevgeny Vuchetich.
Monument to the founders of Kiev
It has been located on the Dnieper embankment since 1982. In a large-scale boat there are three brothers - Shchek, Kiy and Khoriv, as well as their sister Lybid. They are considered the founders of the capital of Ukraine based on the work "The Tale of Bygone Years". The monument is made of wrought copper. There is a swimming pool at the foot of the composition. The city got its name from the name of the elder brother Kiy. Opposite the flower bed is a stone with a quote from the chronicle about the foundation of Kiev.
Monument of Eternal Glory
The obelisk is 27 meters high and is dedicated to those killed in the Great Patriotic War. Since 1957 it has been decorating the center of the Park of Eternal Glory. At the foot of the monument, the Eternal Flame is burning, placed on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nearby is the Alley of Heroes, leading directly to the obelisk. 35 burials of soldiers were moved to it, including 12 Heroes of the Soviet Union. An observation alley with a view of the left bank of the city is adjacent to the composition.
Arch of Friendship of Peoples
The composition includes three elements: an arch made of titanium sheets in the shape of a rainbow, two workers made of bronze and a granite sculpture with a cut from the Pereyaslavskaya Rada. Two workers are holding a ribbon with the Order of Friendship of Peoples, one of them is Ukrainian, and the other is Russian. The composition is dedicated to the unification of Ukraine with Russia, on the pedestal there is an inscription in 2 languages. Since 1982, it has been located in Khreshchaty Park, it was opened in honor of the 60th anniversary of the creation of the USSR.
Monument to Vladimir the Great
The statue of the cloaked prince who christened Rus is the unofficial symbol of the city. In his right hand he has a large cross, and in his left he holds a princely hat. Situated on a brick pedestal with a cast iron cladding, reminiscent of an octagonal chapel. The statue is made of bronze, the height is 4.4 meters. The cultural heritage was built in 1853 and is located in the Vladimirskaya Gorka park on the banks of the Dnieper.
Monument to Bohdan Khmelnitsky
The most famous hetman of Ukraine, he points with his right hand with a mace to the north, towards Moscow. The sculpture is distinguished by the beauty of its contours and details. Bohdan Khmelnytsky is depicted on horseback, which he abruptly pauses. The monument is made of bronze by sculptor Mikhail Mikeshin, architect - Vladimir Nikolaev. The composition was opened in 1888 on the territory of Sophia Square in honor of the 900th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus.
Monument to Princess Olga
A sculptural group in the center with Princess Olga, who was the only female head of the state. To the right of it are the enlighteners of the Slavic peoples Cyril and Methodius, and to the left is the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, he points to the “holy mountains of Kiev”. The composition is made of marble and stands on a pedestal of pink granite. Since 1911, it has been decorating Mikhailovskaya Square opposite the Mikhailovsky Cathedral.
Monument to Cossack Mamay
A monument in honor of the popular character of Ukrainian culture, who is considered the embodiment of the people. Cossack Mamai is presented with a bandura in his hands, a saber lies nearby. He has a long forelock on his shaved head, and a mustache on his face. There is a horse behind the character. The monument was opened in 2001 for the celebration of the Intercession of the Virgin. The monument is located in the center of the capital on the Independence Square. Valentin and Nikolay Znoba became the sculptures.
Monument to Yaroslav the Wise
Bronze figure of an ancient Russian prince 4.1 meters high on a 0.6 meter granite pedestal. Yaroslav holds a model of the St. Sophia Cathedral in his hands, and he looks in the direction of the temple. A staircase leads directly to the monument. On the right is a boulder engraved with the name of the prince. The monument was created in 1997 and is located near the Golden Gate in the park, the opening was for the Day of Kiev. On the back there are sculptors' prints.
"The globe"
A blue balloon with doves flying from above, which are symbols of the five continents. Birds carry a laurel branch. A work of architecture denotes a geographic point. Around the monument, the gaps to the regional centers of Ukraine and the capitals of other countries are highlighted. The sculpture is located on Independence Square near the main post office of the city. The design is made of special plastic and rotates beautifully, has a backlight.
Monument to military pilots
Leonid Bykov is represented as Captain Titarenko from the film "Only Old Men Go to Battle". The hero just returned from the flight and sat down on top of the cockpit of his plane. The monument surrounds the open space as a runway. It is simultaneously dedicated to military pilots and people's artist of the country. It was created from bronze in 2001 in honor of the anniversary of the liberation of Kiev and is located in the Park of Glory.
Monument to Ilya Muromets
The modern sculpture, which was created using a 3D printer, consists of over 400 pieces. The bronze monument to the hero weighs 2 tons, the total height with a stone and a hill is 11 meters. A Ukrainian athlete named Vasily Virastyuk posed for the sculptor Vladimir Zhuravly. The rider sits on his horse, has a long beard, and holds a spear in his hands. The monument was erected in the Muromets park, there are benches nearby.
"Cat Panteleimon"
Natural size bronze monument to a Persian cat. According to the story, in the restaurant opposite, his living gray prototype named Pantyusha lived. He was a favorite of employees and guests of the institution until he died in a fire, suffocating in smoke. After the incident, visitors transferred money to restore the restaurant, and in 1998 they decided to erect a monument to the cat. It is located in the Zolotovorotsky public garden.
"Blue hand"
A modern art object called "Middle Way" by the Romanian sculpture by Bohdan Ratsi, which symbolizes friendship and communication. It is located in the center of the capital on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard. The monument was erected as part of the "Moving Monuments" project. The hand is blue, two times the height of a person. The creation of the sculpture is associated with the popularization of the initiative "Kiev - the city of the world" at the request of the Embassy of Romania in Ukraine.
Monument to Panikovsky
Bronze statue of Ilf and Petrov, a character from the novel The Golden Calf. It bears a resemblance to the actor Zinovy Gerdt, who played the role of Panikovsky. A sculpture of a blind man with a cane, wearing dark glasses and a hat. The left foot steps on the coin. The monument was created in 1998 near the corner of Khreshchatyk and Proriznaya, where the hero of the novel Mikhail Panikovsky was pickpocketing before the revolution. Putting a mirror to the sole of the shoe, you can see a fig.
Monument to M.A.Bulgakov
Bronze sculpture of a writer sitting on a bench. The figure is made to his natural height. Bulgakov sits with his legs crossed and his arms crossed over his chest. This is the first monument in the world dedicated to the famous writer. It has been open since 2007 and is located on Andreevsky Spusk. The composition is placed near his house-museum, where he lived with his family while studying at the gymnasium and university.
Column of the Magdeburg Law
It is the oldest monument in Kiev, erected in 1802. It is located at the foot of Vladimirskaya Gorka, on the lower terrace that leads to the Dnieper embankment. The monument is 23 meters high. Includes a base with three slotted arches and a Tuscan column with a spherical tower at the top. The cultural property is made of bricks and has an information board with the date of construction.
Monument to T. G. Shevchenko
The Ukrainian poet and artist is in the park opposite the red building of the university, where he once worked. The folk writer stands straight with his head slightly bowed. His arms are folded behind his back, a coat hangs from his left arm. Taras Shevchenko's face demonstrates hard reflections. The monument was made of bronze in 1939 in honor of the 125th anniversary of the poet's birth. The sculpture is considered one of the symbols of the modern capital.
Monument to Hetman Mazepa
The sculpture is presented in the form of a dove taking off. The bird is located on a ball, framed by the reliefs of churches and cathedrals, which were built with donations from the hetman. The pigeon includes two parts uniting at the beak. They are symbols of the unity of the Right-Bank and Left-Bank Ukraine. The bird's tail wraps around the ball and churches. The monument was made in 2009 on a granite pedestal, it rotates around its axis.
"To the Heroes of Chernobyl"
Here you can see the Wall of Memory, on which there are 48 granite slabs with images of settlements abandoned by residents. In 2013, a sculptural element called "Earth" was opened. It is made in the form of a radiation hazard sign. The element is located in front of the central monument of Prometheus, chained to a rock, holding fire. Rotunda "Pantheon of Memory" personifies the unification of countries to eliminate the consequences of the accident.
Monument to Zheglov and Sharapov
Bronze sculpture of the heroes of the film "The meeting place cannot be changed." It appeared in 2009 for the 90th anniversary of the country's criminal investigation department near the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Gleb Zheglov is depicted in a cloak and hat. Vladimir Sharapov is standing a little behind. On the pedestal, you can see a drawing of a black cat, which was left by the gang members at the scene of the atrocity. It is under Zheglov's foot, which is a symbol of the defeat of banditry.
Monument to Hetman Sagaidachny
The monument, made of granite and bronze, depicts the Ukrainian hetman on horseback. In his right hand he holds a mace - a symbol of power. On the side of Sagaidachny there is a sagaidak with arrows, which was his favorite weapon. The monument was opened in 2001 on Kontraktova Square, not far from the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. The construction was built at the expense of the people of Kiev and the inhabitants of Lvov, in which the commander was born.
Memorial sign to the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933
A gray granite stele placed on a small plinth. A hole in the form of a cross is made inside; a black bronze figure of the Mother of God in a special stylization is cut into it. In the center of the Mother of God there is an image of a child with arms outstretched. The dates "1932, 1933" are carved at the top of the stone. The monument was built in 1993 for the 60th anniversary of the Holodomor. It is located near the wall of the Mikhailovsky Golden-Domed Monastery.
"Chasing two hares"
At the beginning of Andriyivsky Spusk in 1999, there are sculptures of heroes of the famous comedy of Soviet times. The characters are captured in a romantic moment. Svirid Golokhvostov knelt, intending to propose to Prona Prokopovna. She extends her hand to him for a kiss. Behind Svirid there is a symbolic bug, and at the bottom of the sculpture lies his glove. Sculptures of the monument - Vitaly Sivko and Vladimir Shchur.
"To the Afghan warriors"
A group of sculptures of three figures. A path made of paving stones, hewn with granite stones, leads to them. On the pedestal are carved words from a poem by S. S. Govorukhin. The names of the victims are carved on the granite slabs nearby, there are more than 3 thousand of them. The monument was made on the basis of a real photograph taken at the beginning of the war. It opened in 1999, sculptures - Nikolai Oleinik and Nikolai Kisly. The composition is installed near the Lavra.
Monument to V.V. Lobanovsky
The Ukrainian footballer sits on the coach's bench, watching the game tensely. The sculpture's pedestal is made in the shape of a large soccer ball signed by Valery Lobanovsky. Bronze, acrylic, granite and stainless metal were used in the manufacture. The sculpture of the trainer is 3.5 meters high. Part of a glass pedestal with a screen, it shows fragments of a football player's career. The monument was opened in 2003 near the entrance to the Dynamo stadium.
Monument to M. Hrushevsky
The historian and politician is presented in a process of inner immersion in connection with the last years of his life. His hands are resting on an umbrella, in the left he holds a hat. He himself sits thoughtfully on the bench. The figure of Grushevsky is made of bronze. The monument was opened in 1998 near the former building of the Central Rada of the UPR, which the politician headed. The peculiarity of the sculpture is its skillful portrait characterization.
Monument to Lesya Ukrainka
Bronze figure of the famous writer, poetess and translator, 5 meters high. The pedestal is made of black labradorite. By design, she is presented at the same time strong-willed and feminine. The lines from her poem are carved on the pedestal, the total height of the structure is 10 meters. Nearby there is a square with fountains and benches. The monument was opened in 1973 in the center of the capital, on the Lesya Ukrainka square.
"Babi Yar"
The memorial complex was opened in 1976, dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the tragedy. There is a "Monument to Soviet citizens and prisoners of war soldiers and officers of the Soviet Army, shot by the German fascists in Babi Yar", which is a bronze multi-figure composition. The Menorah at Babi Yar is a construction for the perished Jews. On the territory of the complex there is: a cross in memory of 621 shot members of the OUN and a cross to the executed Orthodox priests. A monument to the destroyed children was erected, a stele in memory of the ostarbeiters. Here you can see a monument to the executed mentally ill, a monument to Elena Teliga. Since 2016, a monument to the executed gypsies in the form of a gypsy cart has been unveiled.
