Khreshchatyk

Head office of the Ukrainian Post on Khreschatyk

Khreschatyk (Ukrainian: Хрещатик, Khreshchatyk; Russian: Крещатик, Kreshchatik) is the main street of Kiev, Ukraine. The name is derived from the Slavic word krest or khrest (cross). It lies in a valley that is crossed by several ravines. When looked at from above, the valley resembles a cross.

The entire street was completely destroyed during World War II by the retreating Red Army and rebuilt in the neo-classical style of post-war Stalinist architecture. The street has been significantly renovated during the modern period of Ukraine's independence. Today, the street is the administrative and business center of the city, as well as a popular place for Kievans.

History

Russian Empire

Khreschatyk at the end of the nineteenth century. The first tram lines in the Russian Empire were built in Kiev.

For a long time, Khreschatyk remained an undeveloped ravine between several neighborhoods of Kiev: Podil - the commercial neighbourhood, the Upper City - the administrative neighbourhood, and the prosperous Pechersk neighbourhood built around the Pechersk Lavra ("Monastery of the Caves").

The development of the area only started in the 19th century. The ravine was filled and accelerating construction quickly followed. By the mid-19th century, Khreschatyk was developed as Kiev's main thoroughfare in the climate of rapid growth of the city during the Industrial Revolution in Imperial Russia. The street soon became the centre of Kiev's commercial life, as the city itself developed into the main commercial centre in the Empire's south-west.

In 1892, the first electric tram line in the Russian Empire was running in Kiev and by 1894, the line was extended to Khreschatyk. The street was served by the tram for about 40 years.

Revolution

During the period of chaos after the Russian Revolution of 1917, many buildings on Khreschatyk were heavily damaged as the city changed hands many times between Ukrainian, German, Polish, and Bolshevik forces. On May 9, 1920, the Polish army under General Rydz-Smigly celebrated their capture of Kiev by a ceremonial parade on Khreschatyk. It was driven out by the Bolshevik counter-offensive within weeks.

Interbellum

Between the wars, Khreschatyk underwent major development and reconstruction. Between 1923 and 1937, the street carried the name of Vaclav Vorovsky, an early Bolshevik diplomat assassinated in Switzerland. In the mid-1930s, the tram lines were dismantled, and the trams replaced by trolleybuses.

World War II

The blown up City Duma (City Council) building and others after the explosions during World War II.

During World War II, almost every building on the street was mined with explosives by the retreating Red Army. In September 1941, after German troops occupied the city, explosions were set off by radio-controlled fuses from over 400 kilometres away. The demolition of over three hundred buildings on Khreschatyk became the first operation in history where the long-distance radio-controlled explosions were used for military purposes. Much of the surviving historic centre of Kiev was demolished. This unprecedented method of warfare caused panic and brought heavy casualties among both the occupiers and city's remaining civilian population.

Under German occupation, the street was renamed Eichhornstrasse, after the German World War I Field Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn (the "Military dictator of Ukraine" during the previous German occupation, who had been assassinated in Kiev in 1918.)^[1]

Soviet Ukraine

Following the war, Khreschatyk was rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s. The street was widened to between 75 to 100 metres and new buildings were erected in the Neoclassical Stalinist architectural style. Important buildings of the new ensemble include the City Council House (Kyivrada), the Central Post Office (Poshtamt) and Trade-Union House (Budynok Profspilok).

The street was one of Kiev's first landmarks that was serviced by the Kiev Metro in 1960, (see Khreshchatyk (Kiev Metro)) and was the system's first transfer station when the second line opened in 1976.

On May 1, 1986, a few days after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, Soviet authorities held a traditional May Day parade on Khreschatyk, in order to "calm people" and "prevent panic" caused by the disaster. Thousands of Kievans, including many children, were exposed to dangerous doses of radiation.

Khreschatyk in the early 1980s.

In the late 1980s, the porch of the Central Post Office building partially collapsed during heavy rain, killing a dozen people and injuring some. The porch was rebuilt in the following years according to its original design.

In July 24, 1990, the first ceremonial raising of the Ukrainian national flag took place on Khreschatyk, on the large flagstaff of the Kiev City Council. Due to its central location, the street became the traditional place for political rallies.

Independent Ukraine

Tent city on Khreschatyk during the Orange Revolution.

Following the Collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukraine becoming independent, the avenue gained a wider context as the central street of the country. During the late 1990s, a complex reconstruction took place, and most of the buildings were cosmetically cleaned up from elements, structurally upgraded and enhanced with colourful illumination. Modern electronic billboards and screens were also installed.

In 2000–01, Khreschatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti, became the centre of the mass protest campaign known as Ukraine without Kuchma. Allegedly to keep the protesters out, the city Mayor (Oleksandr Omelchenko at that time) ordered a major reconstruction of the street, which led to significant rebuilding of Maidan Nezalezhnosti, and construction of two large underground shopping malls.

In the winter of 2004, Khreschatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti became the centre of the main public protests of the Orange Revolution. The protesters' main tent encampment was situated in the street, and many Khreschatyk buildings served as makeshift feeding and warming sites for the protesters, including the City Council House. At its peak, over a million people from all around Ukraine attended the rally.

Attractions

Khreschatyk at night

Khreschatyk is a popular destination for tourists and Kievans. During weekends and public holidays, the street is closed to road traffic and reserved for pedestrians. Khreschatyk contains many upscale stores, cafés, and restaurants.

Points of interest situated along Khreschatyk are the following (south-west to north-east):

• Besarabska Square, including:
  • Besarabsky indoor Market (nineteenth century)
  • "Besarabsky Quarter" (shops and offices complex, partly nineteenth century)
  • Metrohrad, underground shopping centre
• Central Department Store (TsUM)
• Kiev Passage, a small narrow commercial and residential street
• City Council Building (Kyivrada)
• Maidan Nezalezhnosti, including:
  • Central Post Office (Poshtamt)
  • National Musical Academy Concert Hall
  • Globus underground shopping centre, and the preserved ruins of Medieval Liadski Gate beneath the square
  • Hotel Ukrayina (previously called Moskva)
• European Square ("Yevropeyska Square"), including:
  • Hotel Dnipro
  • UNIAN news agency building
  • Ukrainian House (Ukrayinskyi Dim) conference and exhibitions hall
  • Kiev Philarmony building (nineteenth century)
  • People's Friendship Arch monument dedicated to the unification of Russia and Ukraine with the signing of the Treaty of Pereyaslav

Khreschatyk is a traditional setting for outdoor concerts and festivals, and is frequented by street musicians. Major parades and celebrations are held on Kiev Day (the last Sunday of May), Victory Day (May 9) and Ukrainian Independence Day (August 24).

References

Khreschatyk Street Prorezna Street · Central Department Store · Ministry of Agrarian Policy · Passage · City Council Besarabska Square Besarabsky Market · Besarabsky Quarter · Metrohrad · Arena Centre Maidan Nezalezhnosti Central Post Office · City Duma building · Globus · Liadskyi Gate · National Musical Academy · Hotel Ukrayina · October Palace · Trade Union House · Kiev Conservatory European Square Hotel Dnipro · Ukrainian House · Kiev Philarmony · Parliamentary Library