If you are looking for a city break in Europe, try visiting Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv. It's the largest city in the country and is located on the Dneper River in north-central Ukraine. The population of the city is more than 2 million people, making it the seventh most populated city in Europe.

Kyiv

Kyiv is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is located in the north-central part of the country along the Dneper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population numbered 2,962,180. This makes it the seventh most populous city in Europe.

Despite its long-standing Russian origin, the Ukrainian capital's name is most often spelled as Kiev. This has led to a shift in usage. While many newspapers and news organizations continue to use the Russian-derived name, readers are more likely to see Kyiv in current reports.

The architecture of Kyiv is strikingly diverse. It has undergone several different architectural styles over the years. Its buildings include churches, monuments, theaters, and mansions. Visitors to Kyiv can get a good taste of the city's different styles and architectural eras on foot.

The city's residents describe their religious beliefs as Orthodox Christianity. However, the Soviet government discouraged religion from the city's population until 1991. During this period, few people attended church regularly. At the same time, the number of publicly-stated non-believers increased. Today, the city has a majority of Christians, although other faiths are also present.

The Dnieper River

In recent decades, inland river cruises have become a popular form of travel in Ukraine. The Dnieper River is a navigable waterway, extending over 2,000 km. It is also a major shipping route. Its locks allow vessels as large as 270 by 18 metres to enter the port of Kiev.

The Dnieper divides the country in two, dividing east from west, and running north to south. It connects the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, with the Black Sea. This river is a key strategic and cultural resource for Ukraine. A trip along its banks will provide a glimpse into its past and present.

Historically, the Dnieper was an important waterway. People lived along its banks since ancient times, and it played a significant role in the development of eastern Europe. The Dnieper river was also a major part of the founding of the ancient Kievan state. In the fourth to sixth centuries ce, the river system grew, linking the Black Sea to the Baltic. Today, half of the Dnieper basin is within Ukraine. The river has many tributaries.

The city's most iconic landmark

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the city's most famous landmarks. It is an impressive sight that offers a beautiful passage over the bay and interesting views. Visitors can view the cemetery for military dogs and walk on the bridge to get a sense of its size. This beautiful landmark has also been used in many films and television shows.

It's located on the Dnieper River in north-central Ukraine

Kiev is a mix of old and new. The city experienced rapid growth during the 1990s, and its population has continued to rise steadily since the turn of the millennium. Downtown Kiev is dotted with new buildings known as novostroikas, while older apartment buildings are painted in muted colors. Population density in the suburbs is decreasing. The most expensive properties in Kiev are located in the Khreschatyk and Pechersk areas.

The city has a population of nearly two million people, making it one of the largest and oldest cities in Eastern Europe. It has played a major role in the development of medieval East Slavic civilization and the modern Ukrainian nation. The city also offers world-class universities and world-famous museums and monuments.

Tourism in the capital of Ukraine has been increasing since 1991, but has faced several setbacks. The introduction of a visa-free policy for EU and Swiss nationals in 2005 spurred the growth of the sector. In 2012, the Ukrainian capital hosted the UEFA Euro 2012 football championship, which brought in 2.5 million visitors. The tourism industry was hit hard in 2020 after a coronavirus outbreak ravaged the country.

It's surrounded by lowlands

Ukraine's capital is surrounded by lowlands and has a temperate climate. The winters are mild and there is very little snow, and summers are mild, with temperatures ranging from 39 degF in January to 75 degF in July. However, if you visit Ukraine's capital in the fall or early spring, you should be prepared for cold weather.

The majority of the country is flat, with only a few mountains in the southeast and northeast. The highest point in Ukraine is Mount Hoverla, which rises over 2,061 feet. The rest of the country is dominated by lowlands and low plateaus. The capital is located in a valley in the north-central part of the country.

The Dnieper River flows through the city. The Desna River is also nearby. The Dnieper Lowland extends to the east and west of the country. This lowland is flat in the west and gently rolling in the east. In the south and east, the Black Sea Lowland covers the land between the two rivers and reaches the shores of the Black Sea. The Dnieper and Desna rivers are navigable to the capital, but the area is prone to freezing over in the winter.

It has a large Jewish population

The Jewish community in Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv, has a long history. It dates back to Kyivan Rus, where many Jewish refugees settled along the banks of the River Dnieper, in eastern and southern Ukraine. Under the Khazar Empire, the Jews were allowed to practice their religion freely, and many eventually assimilated into the Khazar society.

The Jewish population in Ukraine has been in existence for more than a thousand years. It now totals about 300,000 people, with an average age of 45. Since the fall of communism, however, hundreds of thousands of Jews have fled the country, leaving the Ukrainian Jewish community to suffer in poverty.

The Ukrainian capital is the largest city in the country, and it has a significant Jewish population. In the past, the Jews lived in areas off-limits to non-Jews. This included the Right-bank of the Dnieper River, which was a former Khazan stronghold. In 1569, the city became part of the Polish empire, and this allowed the Jewish community to expand its presence. The Polish influence on the region provided Jewish settlers with a number of economic opportunities. The Jews were involved in many agricultural enterprises, real estate under the arenda system, and in the collection of customs duties and taxes. Additionally, they served as liaisons between the Ukraine and the Ottoman Empire.

It has a large Protestant population

While most of the people in the capital of Ukraine identify as Orthodox Christians, the country has a significant Protestant population. During the Soviet era, the state discouraged religion, which resulted in only a small proportion of people attending church on a regular basis. As a result, the number of publicly-declared non-believers increased. Today, Protestants and other Christians form a large minority in the capital.

The first settlements in Kiev were made around 15,000 to 40,000 years ago by three East Slav brothers. They settled on a hill, and this settlement eventually grew into what is today known as Kiev. It was named for the sister of one of the brothers, Lybed. The city was occupied by Mongol forces in 1240, and it was a provincial capital of marginal importance until the late nineteenth century. Eventually, it was designated the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1934. It was badly damaged during World War II, but recovered to become the third-largest city in the Soviet Union. In 1991, Ukraine became independent, and Kiev became the capital city of Ukraine.

When Anastasia visited Kyiv for the last time, she had plans to go visit her family there. The Church of the Hospitallers was about to move out of the city's Cathedral, and she was planning to join the Hospitallers in the east.

It has a large Muslim population

The capital city of Ukraine is home to a large Muslim community. Many of these migrants are Russian-origin, and have settled in cities like Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Lviv, and Lviv near the Polish border. Before 2014, the Crimean peninsula had the largest Muslim population, but the annexation of Crimea by Russia led to a large Muslim exodus to the mainland of Ukraine.

While most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians, the country is led by a Jewish president. The Muslim population in the country is only about one percent. In the Crimean Peninsula, Muslims make up as much as 12 percent of the population. Since 2014, Russian-origin Muslims have moved to other parts of the country to become part of the Ukrainian resistance. Other Muslim volunteers are fighting against Russian-backed separatists.

While the population of Muslims in Ukraine is still small, the number is increasing. As a result, the country's Muslim population has become much more diverse. The Islamic community in Ukraine has more than a few mosques and representative bodies.

The Casualties in the War in Ukraine

The casualties in Ukraine are mounting. Both sides are close to exhaustion. It's a sad state of affairs. Countless people have lost their lives. And the military and civilian infrastructure has been damaged. Regardless of the casualty figures, the war in Ukraine continues to cause havoc.

U.S. estimate of ukraine casualties

As of July 28, the Russian military controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including Luhansk Province and Kherson region. The front line stretches nearly 1,500 miles from southern Ukraine to the northeastern Kharkiv region. Western analysts say Russia has suffered significant losses, including thousands of tanks and armored vehicles. The Russian Defense Ministry has not revealed the number of casualties.

The United States estimates the Russian military has suffered around 15,000 casualties, with three times that many wounded. Russia does not regularly update its official casualty figures, even during times of peace. In fact, the last time the Russian military updated its casualty numbers was on March 25. However, the Kyiv government told the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado in June that a few hundred to 200 Ukrainian troops were killed daily.

The Russian military has suffered heavy casualties during the war in Ukraine. According to reports, hundreds of generals and colonels have died during the conflict. This means that the chain of command is weakened and the Russian military has had difficulty conducting the conflict. CIA Director William Burns said on July 20 that the U.S. has no way of independently verifying the numbers.

Indirect deaths are hard to measure. They occur when access to basic necessities is cut off. Power and water supplies can become cut off, and people are forced to flee in the winter. Moreover, many hospitals have been targeted. The causal chain of these incidents may not be apparent, but the total number of casualties is staggering.

The war in Ukraine has destroyed vast quantities of property and infrastructure. According to analysts, the Russian army is firing 10,000 artillery shells a day. A recent study from the Kyiv School of Economics put the economic damage to Ukraine at $113.5 billion. Moreover, Ukraine needs $200 billion just to recover from the humanitarian disaster.

Russia's death toll

In the war in Ukraine, Russia has incurred a significant death toll. According to CIA director William Burns, the Kremlin has lost around 15,000 soldiers, including those wounded and missing, and the number is likely much higher. The majority of Russian casualties were probably sustained during the initial phase of the invasion, before the Kremlin reorganized its forces and shifted their focus to the country's industrial heartland in the east.

There is an important problem with these estimates: they rely on estimates based on contact reports, which are notoriously unreliable. This means that American commanders may have been incentivized to overstate the number of enemy casualties and to count civilians as combatants. Furthermore, the modern weaponry used in the conflict makes gathering reliable data a challenge.

It is also difficult to gauge the level of support among Russians for the conflict. The government has censored media, and independent analysts have been arrested for airing dissent. However, pollster VCIOM, which is close to the government, recently reported that 72 percent of Russians support the fighting. Other, independent media and groups keep their own casualty tallies. The Kremlin has no desire to disclose the actual number of deaths in the conflict.

While the number of casualties has risen, the Russian military remains understrength. Currently, the army has to scrape together reserve battalions, with many soldiers refusing to serve. As the fighting continues, Russian forces will be stretched thin. A large-scale Ukrainian counter-offensive will put even more strain on their limited resources.

The Russian government has also made efforts to provide military assistance to Ukraine. The bulk of this aid has come from the U.S., but many other nations have also pitched in. Turkey and Australia have sent 80 combat drones, while Britain and Slovakia have trained 22,000 soldiers. Meanwhile, Slovakia has provided 3.2 million gallons of diesel fuel to Ukraine.

Ukraine's military chief's claim

Ukraine's military chief says nearly 9,000 of its soldiers have died in the war with Russia. Zaluzhnyi's remarks are the first official count of Ukrainian military casualties since the Russian invasion. The United Nations says more than 5,500 civilians have died in the conflict, including more than a thousand children. In addition, the U.N.'s children's agency says 972 Ukrainian children have been killed or injured in the violence.

The Russians had moved south and cut off Ukrainian supplies, but that wasn't enough, as Ukraine launched an offensive against Kupiansk, a critical rail hub. Its capture cut off Russian supply lines to a large group of Russian troops around Izyum. As a result, Russian forces ordered a hasty retreat and claimed they were retreating to the Donetsk region.

The war against Russia is expected to continue for months, and U.S. officials are certain Russia is planning a massive attack that will topple the Ukrainian government and cause devastation across the country. President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet next week at an economic summit in Uzbekistan. Putin has noted the special nature of Russian-Chinese relations.

Ukraine's military chief's claims of casualties is an overstatement. Currently, all medical professionals in the country are entitled to call up for national emergencies. This does not mean that all medical workers should join the military, but it certainly isn't the best option for the country.

The war in Ukraine has also impacted the exports of fuel and food from Ukraine. Both countries are major producers of these products. As a result, the European Union (EU) is scrambling to find sources of energy. In some cases, EU member states have even begun investing in fossil fuel supplies and infrastructure.

Damage to civilian infrastructure

There have been more than 1,500 civilian buildings, structures, and vehicles destroyed in the conflict in Ukraine. More than 953 civilians have been killed, including 78 children, and the death toll is likely to be much higher. According to the New York Times, the damage to civilian infrastructure has included 23 hospitals, 330 schools, 98 commercial buildings, and 11 buildings related to agriculture or food. In addition to these buildings, there are about 900 houses that have been damaged, which means the country is in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

The World Health Organization estimates that two hospitals are targeted every day in Ukraine. In total, there have been 62 attacks on hospitals since the war began, resulting in 52 civilian casualties and 15 health workers' deaths. The government of Ukraine says the number is lower, but the World Health Organization has verified the reports and is confident that they are accurate. Under the Geneva Conventions, deliberate targeting of civilian health infrastructure is considered a war crime.

A recent report by the Netherlands-based PAX monitoring group highlighted 15 separate attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine. These included neighbourhood pharmacies and maternity hospitals. The author of the study said there was evidence of indiscriminate bombardment of such facilities. According to the study, the Ukraine government wants to attract investment.

As of May 10, the KSE estimates that Ukraine's economic losses resulting from the war have reached nearly $327 million. Damage to educational institutions totals almost a billion dollars, with an average cost of $227. Additionally, the war has forced more than 8 million people to leave the country and cross into neighboring countries.

Russian bombing of besieged cities

The Russian military has recently bombed a Mariupol art school, killing 400 people. Mariupol is a major port city that is under siege by the Russian military. The unrelenting Russian bombardment of the city will leave a scar on the history of Ukraine. Its president has said that the siege will be remembered for centuries to come.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed and injured in the fighting. A fire department and maternity hospital have also been destroyed in the attack. The hospital has no food and no water and the surrounding roads have been mined. The Russians have stopped humanitarian convoys from bringing food and water into the city. In the meantime, residents are melting snow to drink. The situation is so critical that some parents have left their newborns in the hospital.

During the conflict, the United States has been supplying Ukraine with large amounts of military aid, including ammunition, small arms, and other defensive weaponry. The United States also sent additional troops and equipment to the country to help it fight back. The Russians have claimed that they would reduce their troop levels in the besieged cities, but they haven't done so. This has led to fears among many Western leaders that Russia might use chemical weapons in the future.

The Russian bombing of besieged cities in eastern Ukraine has left hundreds of civilians dead and displaced. Among them are many women and children. Ukrainian officials say they are suffering from a humanitarian crisis.

Interactive Ukraine Control Map

The ISW Interactive Map of the Ukraine War provides high-fidelity assessments of the war in Ukraine. The map shows how the war is being waged at the street level. This interactive map is a complementary tool to static control-of-terrain maps. It is particularly helpful for commanders and analysts. The map shows the varying levels of Russian forces' control over territory. It also shows where Ukrainian forces are fighting the Russians.

Ukrainian counteroffensive recaptures key city of Izyum

The Ukrainian counteroffensive is advancing through the eastern parts of Ukraine and has captured key cities including Izyum, Kupiansk, and Kherson. Russian forces have reportedly been pushed out of several towns and are continuing to redeploy to the southern axis. The advance across Ukraine is likely to shake the Kremlin. The Ukrainian military has been using Western-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HMARS) in the offensive.

According to reports, Ukrainian forces have retaken the key city of Izyum, a city in eastern Ukraine seized by Russia in March. The city is located near the Oskil River, a vital supply route for Russian troops, and its recapture may pave the way for further advances. The Ukrainian advance could also result in the control of the main railway that supplies thousands of troops in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited Izyum, a key logistics center in the Donbas, and praised the country's troops for launching the counteroffensive. Zelensky also oversaw the raising of the Ukrainian flag in the city. He pledged that the Ukrainian flag would fly again in every city in the country. Ukrainian officials are describing the recapture of the city as a "major breakthrough" in the country's battle against the Russian army.

Russian forces retreating from Kharkiv Oblast

The Russian military has begun its withdrawal from Kharkiv Oblast, the eastern part of Ukraine. The speed at which Ukraine is advancing has thrown the Russian forces into disarray and they are now focusing on preventing losses in surrounding areas. In addition, their numbers are limited and they have been unable to deploy reinforcements quickly enough to counter the aggressive advance.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military has continued its counteroffensive, advancing southwards and reclaiming several towns from Russian forces. The counteroffensive has led to significant gains for Ukrainian troops and dealt a major blow to Moscow's military clout. On Sunday, the military chief of Ukraine posted a video of its troops hoisting the national flag over the town of Chkalovsk, which Russia had seized the first day of the conflict. The commander-in-chief said Ukrainian troops had reclaimed about 3,000 square kilometers from Russian forces since the beginning of September. Currently, Ukrainian forces are 50 kilometers from the border with Russia.

Despite Russian military forces' rapid retreat, the Ukrainian military continues to face pockets of resistance in Kharkiv. Russian troops in Izyum and Balakleya are now being redeployed to Donetsk. The Russian Defense Ministry, which is responsible for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, told French President Emmanuel Macron on Aug. 19 that it has inflicted serious damage on Ukrainian forces but also obliquely acknowledged that the war isn't going as planned. However, the Russian armed forces still have control of a small area along the Oskil River, a vital area for the Ukraine.

Russian forces retaking Chernihiv

A recent Russian air strike in Ukraine destroyed a theater that was used as a makeshift shelter for hundreds of civilians. The attack also killed at least seven civilians, including an American and a Ukrainian woman. In the days before the strike, the town had been under Russian control.

Russian forces have advanced to within fifteen miles of the center of Kyiv, but continue to face stiff Ukrainian resistance. They are still unable to take the city, but have managed to take some land in the surrounding areas. The fighting is still ongoing in other areas of the country, as Russian forces shell civilian neighborhoods.

Analysts are not convinced that these gains will change the course of the war. Taking territory is one thing, but holding onto it is quite another. Moscow has far superior weaponry, including thermobaric weapons and cluster munitions. Moreover, Ukraine's military has not been involved in many counteroffensive operations since February.

The withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine has also altered the map. The Ukraine's army has retaken parts of the Kyiv region, including the towns of Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel. The army has begun clearing the area of landmines. The cleanup is expected to take 10 days. The town of Chernihiv was severely damaged during the war. Approximately 70% of the town's buildings were damaged.

Russian forces in Kherson region

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, as of mid-March, Russian forces had full control of the Kherson region. Since then, it has formed a military-civilian administration in the region. Officials there have repeatedly stated that they plan to incorporate the region into the Russian Federation. Residents have been warned to stay away from Russian ammunition dumps in the Berislav district, located northwest of the Kakhovka hydroelectric powerplant.

The Kremlin has been trying to make Kherson the first major city to fall to its forces, but the Ukraine is still fighting back. Russia has managed to take Mariupol and Luhansk after protracted fighting, but Kherson has not been subjected to such heavy casualties. However, this has not stopped the Kremlin from using the city as a propaganda tool and for fake social polls. It has also been reported that the administrators are trying to push through a referendum for the city to formally accede to Russia.

While the Russian military commander said there were no plans to mount a ground operation, he said that he was using missile strikes to regain their positions. He added that Russia had not enough heavy weaponry to mount a decisive offensive, but that missile terror could make a difference in the situation. He also stated that he had ordered missile strikes against Skadovsk and Oleshkiy, two towns in the occupied Kherson region. Despite the Russian military's announcements, the Ukrainian presidential advisers have asked for restraint in the media and commentators, urging for the ceasefire.

Russian forces in Donetsk

With Russian forces in Donetsk, Ukraine's eastern regions remain a battleground. While Ukraine has substantial ties to Russia, it has also sought to align itself with the West, including the United States. The prospect of a NATO-aligned nation on Russia's border has motivated Moscow to interfere. As a result, pro-Russian separatists have taken control of parts of eastern Ukraine, including the Crimea peninsula.

On August 26, a British intelligence team released an image of Russian military forces east of Donetsk, revealing at least 15 heavy trucks, seven armored vehicles, and nine artillery positions. Despite the influx of Russian forces, the conflict has not escalated to the point where Ukraine would be able to recapture its capital.

The Institute for the Study of War reported that significant fighting has taken place in five locations over the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian military reportedly destroyed enemy control points and warehouses, damaged bridges across the Dnieper River, and cut off supplies to the region from Crimea. Russia, meanwhile, reportedly used air defense systems in the region to counter Ukrainian attacks.

Following the Russian counterattack on Donetsk, the Russian occupation administration regrouped its forces to protect the city. In response to the Ukrainian forces' retaliatory strikes, Russia redeployed many troops to the south of the country. But Russia's military leadership retains the confidence of the head of state. While the Kremlin has no comment on reports that the Western Military District commander has been fired, this is a matter for the Defense Ministry.

Russian forces in Mariupol

Since the war broke out, Russian forces have targeted Mariupol as a key military target. The city has been devastated by a series of attacks. Thousands of civilians have sought refuge in the city's steelworks. Several evacuations have been carried out in the past weeks, and the town now has a population of less than half its original size. Survivors have reported severe shortages of electricity, food, and clean water.

The Russian military's shelling has damaged the city's communications and heating infrastructure. The destruction is preventing necessary repairs to these vital services. It is essential that both sides honor their ceasefire terms, which would allow civilians to safely evacuate, and allow the city to receive emergency humanitarian aid and make needed repairs to essential infrastructure.

The Russian military's offensive on Mariupol began on Feb. 24, but the city was surrounded by early March. By that point, Russian forces had pushed Ukrainian forces back, pinning them inside the Azovstal power plant with their backs to the sea. On April 21, Russian military officials declared the city's victory, but they have not yet fully returned.

Russian forces in Luhansk

Russia controls the Luhansk region of Ukraine, which is a key battleground in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. It has also taken the city of Lysychansk, which was the last major Ukrainian stronghold in the region. Now the region is completely under the control of Russian forces, who have proclaimed themselves the Luhansk People's Republic.

The Ukrainian troops have been holding out in the Luhansk pocket for months. They were in the positions of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, but faced encirclement and retreated to the east. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that continuing the defense of the city would have had fatal consequences and that they had to retreat to save their lives. However, the Ukrainian forces are significantly outnumbered in artillery, ammunition, and personnel compared to the Russians.

The town of Kozacha Lopan, which sits on the fire line between Ukrainian and Russian forces, is another contested area. It is a former administrative center for the Russian occupiers and is now heavily damaged. CNN's Fareed Zakaria spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the country's counteroffensive against Russia. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military's general staff announced Sunday that Russian forces have evacuated the town of Svatove in the Luhansk region.