Kyiv

Next stop in the trip was Kyiv. The ride from Minsk to Kyiv was relatively long but very enjoyable as all trees were still showing beautiful autumn hues and the border crossing was quite easy. I was really looking forward to see Kyiv especially since I had already visited the town 6 years prior in 2013 and found it very nice. The first day in Kyiv I first revisited many of the important sights of the city center. I began my visit around Independence Square were coincidentally there was a massive political protest against the planned local elections for the territory that is under the control of Russia-backed separatists.

Protests at independence Square.

After navigating the crowds of protesters adorned with Ukrainian flags and colours I continued towards the areas around Volodymyrska Hill where there are fantastic views of the city across the Dnieper river and also the the Friendship of Nations Arch and a the Volodymyr The Great Monument. Here one can also find one of my favourite landmarks of the city the Saint Andrew's Eastern Orthodox Church completed in 1767 in baroque style.

Friendship of Nations Arch, depicting a Ukrainian and Russian worker holding together a Soviet flag to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the USSR and the 1,500th Anniversary of the Kiev city. There are plans to dismantle the arch as part of new decommunization laws.

Volodymyr The Great Monument.

Views of the city from the Volodymyrska Hill area.

Saint Andrew's Eastern Orthodox Church.

Next day I had a very peculiar place to visit that was not open during my 2013 trip. This is because the place was the Mezhyhirya Residence which in 2013 was still inhabited by Viktor Yanukovych who was am infamously corrupt Prime Minister and then President of Ukraine. He was removed from power in February 2014 as a result of the Euromaidan protests leading to the Ukrainian revolution and is currently in exile in Russia and wanted by Ukraine for high treason. The term "residence" here is used very liberally as I believe even the likes of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, or Mark Zuckerberg would hesitate to call it a residence rather than a full blown self contained village. The estate is enclosed within a five-meter tall fence and measures over 140 ha with a yacht pier, an equestrian club, a shooting range, a tennis court, hunting grounds, a golf course, an ostrich farm, a dog kennel, numerous fountains and man-made lakes, a helicopter pad, a church, and an exotic car collection that is now a museum. Clearly this place is a gigantic monument to corruption and bad politicians and since the Yanukovych's exile it had been turned into quite a surreal state park for all to visit under the supervision of army guards.

Yanukovych's actual house within Mezhyhirya Residence.

Fraction of Yanukovych's car collection in his garage that was converted into a car museum.

Mezhyhirya church.

Actual Greek archeology displayed collected by Yanukovych for his Mezhyhirya Residence.

On a more virtuous note the last ares I visited was the city's Lavra Orthodox Monastery of the Caves. Founded in 1051, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been a preeminent center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The main attractions of the Lavra include the Great Lavra Belltower and the Dormition Cathedral as well as many smaller churches, monasteries, and caves where various saints, a pope, and other notable people were buried.

Great Lavra Belltower.

Dormition Cathedral.

One of Lavra's entrances.

Gate in Lavra.

Visiting Kyiv for a second time was really amazing. It is a wonderful city and I can imagine returning for a third or more visits.

Travel from Minsk to Kyiv: 567kms in 7hrs

Total travel for the trip: 5570kms in 71hrs.

More pictures:

Bridge and viewing platform on Volodymyrska Hill.

National University Of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy first campus.

Kontractova square Ferris wheel and Church of Saint Catherine.

Monument to the Magdeburg Rights at the foot of Volodymyrska Hill.

Nice alley on Andriivs'kyi descent connecting Volodymyrska Hill to Kontractova Square.

The Founders of Kyiv Monument facing Independence Square.

Kontractova Square with Saint Andrew's Eastern Orthodox Church in the background.

Nativity of Christ Eastern Orthodox Church.

Kyiv Food Market.

Kyiv Food Market.

The Motherland Monument atop the museum of World War 2.

Holodomor Genocide Museum.

Monument to Unknown Soldier.

Lavra Monastery.

Lavra Monastery.

Lavra Monastery.

Dormition Cathedral.

Covered passage in Lavra.

Lavra Monastery.

Gardens at Mezhyhirya Residence.

Meat grill at Mezhyhirya Residence.

Yanukovych enjoyed motorbikes.

Yanukovych's Boss Hoss with a 6L V8 engine, one of the biggest you can find on a motorbike.

A Bentley and a Chevy among Yanukovych's car collection.

Mezhyhirya Residence map.