Kiev - from kiwidedia

Kiev, also known as Kyiv (Ukrainian:  Київ (help·info), Kyiv, IPA: [ˈkɪjiʊ̯]; Russian:  Ки́ев (help·info), Kiyev; 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 April 2007, official municipal estimates placed the population of Kiev at about 2.7 million inhabitants, although some much higher unofficial estimates are often published.^[1] Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural centre of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions and world-famous historical landmarks. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including the Kiev Metro.

The name Kiev is said to derive from the name of Kyi, one of four legendary founders of the city (brothers Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv and sister Lybid'). During its history, Kiev, one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, passed through several stages of great prominence and relative obscurity. The city may have been founded in the 5th century as a trading post, perhaps part of the land of the early Slavs. It gradually acquired eminence as the centre of Rus civilization, becoming in the tenth to twelfth centuries the political and cultural capital of Rus', a semi-feudal confederation of Slavic principalities to the east of Poland. Completely destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1240, 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: first the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, followed by Poland and Russia.

The city prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. After the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution of 1917, from 1921 onwards Kiev was an important city of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and, from 1934, its capital. During World War II, the city again suffered significant damage, but quickly recovered in the post-war years remaining the third largest city of the Soviet Union. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Ukrainian independence of 1991, Kiev remained the capital ofUkraine.

Apartment Rentals Kiev

Economics – Ukrainian style

Many have asked me what the situation is with the gas crisis. From my perspective it’s simply this – Russia deeply desires to once again control Ukraine (and all the rest of the former Soviet countries for that matter) so they have chosen to turn off the gas supply to Ukraine. They (Russia) say Ukraine hasn’t paid a 2 billion debt and Ukraine says it has except for about 600 million in “service” charges. Who is telling the truth? Your guess is as good as mine. How does a czarist leader try to destroy the people of Ukraine? Hit them where it hurts the most right now – turn off the gas and scare them into thinking that they will all freeze to death before Spring. Ukraine says it has “months” of gas in reserve. Do they really? I seriously doubt it. Rule of thumb here is that when the situation is bad then make it sound better and when the situation is good then make it sound even better. Let’s remember what the government did when the Chernobyl disaster happened. They did nothing for 3 days and the way the people found out was to hear it from Finland and others outside of the country. So for the gas situation what is truth – who knows. What we do know is some people living outside of Kiev have limited heat. Even people living on the other side of Kiev have limited heat. I talked with some friends who told me their flat was a mere 55 degrees. That is not warm! Actually my room is only 59 degrees.

There are however two sides to this story and unfortunately the Western press is only playing the gas shut off story. The other side is on 1 December the city of Kiev raised gas heating prices by 105%. Yes, I said 105% – that is not a typo. And to make matters worse, effective 1 January prices have again been increased by 25%. Translated that means we will be charged $9500 per month to heat the Ark. Now you might be wondering what will they do if one doesn’t pay. Official answer – turn off the heat! Also, you may be asking yourself just where is all that money going? Good question! I have no idea.

The economy is in shambles and makes things in the US economy look good. The currency here is propped up by toothpicks and a small breeze will knock them down in 1 second. Food prices have increased almost daily. Why? Well, when companies get served with huge utility increases, employees also get served with increases for their flats then someone needs to foot the bill – i.e. the consumer. So we get hit on both sides of the ledger. We pay more for food and utilities and we need to give increases to our employees so they can live. It’s all just a bit overwhelming sometimes. All I can say is – God is our refuge and strength and I can rest in that promise. That gives me comfort.

Kievforrent.com: Apartment Rental In Kiev

Opera Hotel Kyiv

The Opera Hotel was Kyiv’s first five star boutique hotel which opened on December, 20th, 2006 It is situated in the heart of the city.

It is ideally located for all that Kyiv has to offer. In March, 2007 the hotel became a member of “The Leading Hotels of the World” an organization synonymous with luxury, elegance, class, and impeccable standards of service world wide.

Originally built in 1908 Opera Hotel is an elegant building that typifies the architectural heritage of Kyiv. Opera hotel is ideally located close the business district and historical attractions such as the Opera House and Vladimir Cathedral. It is therefore the ideal choice for the leisure and business traveller.

Apartment Rental Kiev

Opera hotel offers 137 rooms and suites of delightful style, comfort and grace. Our suites vary in size and each has a separate theme based on concepts from around the world.

Hotel Website: Opera-Hotel.com

Sir.Paul McCartney wows Kyiv !

Sir Paul McCartney played a free concert on Sunday 15th June in Kyiv, intended to promote unity in Ukraine.

Crowds of this size have not been seen in Kyiv since the Orange Revolution. Some estimates say 300,000 people turned up to watch Sir.Paul in the heavy rain.

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The setting was the magnificent Independence Square in Central Kyiv.
It poured all night with thunder and lightning, but Kyiv and Sir.Paul kept rocking all night.

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This was the first time Sir.Paul or any Beatle has performed in Ukraine.It was organised by the billionaire businessman Victor Pinchuk. The same number again watched live broadcasts of Saturday’s performance on big screens in five cities around the country.

Yes, ‘Back In the USSR’ was performed to a great reception, meant as very tongue in cheek no doubt.

Paul and his band played 33 songs including some of the world’s most popular hits that have become the soundtrack to so many people’s lives. Paul played hits by The Beatles including ‘All My Loving’, ‘The Long And Winding Road’, ‘Good Day Sunshine’ and ‘Hey Jude’. He played Wings hits such as ‘Jet’, ‘My Love’ and ‘Band On The Run’ and solo songs including ‘Flaming Pie’ and his most recent hit single ‘Dance Tonight’. Show highlights included a version of the Wings track ‘Mrs. Vanderbilt’, which fans had petitioned for Paul to play and of course a storming version of ‘Back In The USSR’. The audience spanned generations and sang along with every word, the massive crowd made an overwhelming sound when they joined in with Paul on ‘Hey Jude’ and the elaborate stage featured some of the biggest screens ever used for an outdoor show as well as lasers and fireworks.

After the audience had thought the show was over, Paul returned to the stage waving a Ukrainian flag before ending the night with an emotional performance of ‘Yesterday’ and rocked up ‘Sgt. Peppers’.

Throughout the day Paul spent time meeting locals and fans that had waited over 40 years for their hero to come to this part of the world.

He was given a special performance by a choir of children that perform Beatles songs and presented with a traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument, the kobza, by the Ukrainian Beatles fanclub.

Here ‘Macca’ meets ‘Viktor’ in Kyiv. I think the two big guys got on really well. Paul is pictured with his present from the President, a traditional Ukrainian shirt.

Apartment Rental In Kiev
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Cabinet appoints new boss for EU/NATO integration

Cabinet appoints new boss for EU/NATO integration

KYIV, Sept. 26: The Ukrainian cabinet has appointed Vadym Tryukhan as director of the Bureau for European and Euro-Atlantic integration and plans to fully staff it by the end of the year, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Hryhoriy Nemyrya told a briefing today. He said that Tryukhan was appointed at the cabinet meeting on Sept. 24. This body already has 22 employees. There are plans it will employ 70 public service workers from Jan. 1 2009.

“In fact, the cabinet has taken a very important step to pass to the most efficient coordination, that is, horizontal coordination,” he said. He added that the bureau would conduct strategic monitoring and analyse the methodology which is used by the EU.

“We are not encroaching upon the powers and functions of the Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry and the Economics Ministry,” he said. However, he added that the bureau would conduct efficient horizontal coordination, since one post of deputy prime minister for European integration was not enough for this. It was reported earlier that the cabinet had established in its secretariat a coordination bureau for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Its major functions will be to monitor the implementation of the Ukraine-EU action plan and analyse the efficiency of EU integration policy. Tryukhan worked as deputy director of the EU department in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and deputy head of the service of the Ukrainian deputy prime minister.

Apartment Kiev Ukraine

Kiev Spy Welcomes NATO’s Moscow Overture

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine’s top spy has welcomed NATO’s decision last week to resume high-level ties with Russia, suspended after Moscow’s military standoff with Georgia last year.

SBU head Valentyn Nalyvaichenko
In a Financial Times interview, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, head of Ukraine’s SBU [formerly known as the KGB] state security service, said Kiev also sought better relations with Russia, but would continue to crack down on “Russian politicians” who interfered in the country’s domestic politics.

“Good relations are when a neighbour does not stretch across the fence into your yard,” he said, referring to Russian support for pro-Russia political groups in Ukraine, including separatists on the Crimean peninsula, home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

Mr Nalyvaichenko insisted his own service was apolitical as he defended its recent raid on a state-owned energy company involved in the power struggle between President Viktor Yushchenko and the prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

The former diplomat, who was put in charge of the SBU three years ago by Mr Yushchenko, also argued that Ukraine had made big gains in democracy since the 2004 Orange Revolution, despite its continuing economic and political upheavals. “The risks are now more economic in nature,” he said referring to the financial crisis, which has driven Kiev to take an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Kiev, an aspiring NATO member and rare Western ally on post-Soviet turf, strongly backed Georgia in the war, sparking fears of potential conflict between Moscow and Kiev in Crimea. Some nationalist Russian politicians openly want Moscow to annex the peninsula but late last year Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, said publicly it was Ukrainian territory.

Moscow is also much involved in Ukraine’s politicised and lucrative energy sector. Fears resurfaced last week that Russian natural gas supplies via Ukraine to Europe could be cut off again after SBU guards raided state gas company Naftogaz, controlled by Ms Tymoshenko. The raid marked an escalation of tensions between the two leaders after they buried their differences to secure financial support from the IMF.

Mr Nalyvaichenko claimed that Naftogaz, on the orders of the government, had illegally stripped away ownership of more than $2bn worth of gas from Rosukrenergo, a gas trading intermediary, owned jointly by Russia’s Gazprom and Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash.

Deputy SBU chief and billionaire Valery Khoroshkovsky headed the investigation despite admitting to joint interests in television channels with Mr Firtash, Gazprom’s partner in Rosukrenergo. Mr Nalyvaichenko ruled out a conflict of interest, but said another official would take charge of the investigation.

Mr Nalyvaichenko disputed allegations by Ms Tymoshenko that Ukraine’s president had lobbied on behalf of Rosukrenergo for it to regain the disputed gas supplies at the centre of last week’s raids.

He said he had offered to provide proof of Mr Yushchenko’s innocence to Russia’s Accounting Chamber, a public audit office, which was investigating Rosukrenergo’s Ukrainian shareholders.

Since then, Mr Khoroshkovsky appeared on his own TV channel to warn that the security services could next target government offices in a continued quest for documents to prove that gas was illegally transferred from Rosukrenergo to Naftogaz.

The west has repeatedly raised concerns about Rosukrenergo’s lack of transparency, not least because the intermediary has featured in the disputes between Kiev and Moscow that have periodically cut off energy supplies to the rest of Europe.

Mr Nalyvaichenko stressed however that the body was established by leaders in Ukraine and Russia before Mr Yushchenko became president. Gazprom has not publicly backed Rosukrenergo and Mr Putin described last week’s gas dispute as a “domestic” Ukrainian affair.

Source: Financial Times

Apartment Kiev

Living in Kiev-the Capital of Ukraine.

There is no doubt Kiev, the capital of Ukraine , is really an amazing city, which is certainly worth a visit. Even if you have lived years in Kiev, it will always find something new to surprise you. The capital of Ukraine has special spiritual and historic atmosphere. You will feel it from the very first day once you come there.

Kiev has so many interesting places to see that can "feed" you with this spiritual food for a long time. This is great. But life is life. Sooner or later you will have to find a place to stay, eat, drink, go shopping, call your relatives and friends, and send them e-mail or surprise them with some special Ukraine gifts.

The longer you live in Kiev, the more "material interactions" you will have with surrounding world to arrange your life comfortable. In a short period of time you will find your favorite restaurants and Internet cafes, know the fastest routes of Kiev transportation to destinations, locations of the most interesting museums, concert halls and theaters.

It will come to you soon. For the beginning, here is a short review of every-day things which you may need when live in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

You'll find information about such essentials as getting around Kiev, using a taxi, local weather, communications, medical centers and other necessary every-day things added as I build this site.

Apartment in rent Ukraine