The coat of arms of Kiev features the Archangel Michael, wielding a flaming sword and a shield on an azure field.
The coat of arms traces its history back to the medieval principality of Kievan Rus', where the Archangel Michael was depicted on the seals used by the Kievan grand princes. Initially the coat of arms of Kiev featured Saint George fighting a dragon on an azure field, and this today remains the coat of arms of the Kiev Oblast. In the 16th century, a coat consisting of the Archangel Michael clad in white robes, holding a sword and a scabbard on a red field was adopted for the Kiev Voivodeship.
In 1487, along with Magdeburg rights, the city of Kiev received a coat of arms consisting of a hand holding a crossbow.
In 1782, a new coat of arms was approved by the order of Catherine II of Russia. In the order the coat of arms is described as "Archangel Michael in a short tunic on an azure field". Later on it was decorated with an imperial crown and other ornaments. No original image of the arms has been recovered to date. Some modern drawings of the arms exist, based on the description in Catherine's order.
In 1918, during the short time of Ukrainian independence, a coat of arms was adopted which contained, in addition to the Archangel Michael and the crossbow, a trident from the Coat of arms of Ukraine, emphasizing the city's role as the nation's capital.
In 1957, a coat of arms was introduced with chestnut leaves and a crossbow on the red-azure field, containing the word КИЇВ (KYIV; Ukrainian for 'KIEV'), and such Soviet symbols as the hammer and sickle and the Hero City medal. Since 1973 the horse-chestnut leave became one of the symbols of the city.
In May 1995, the Kiev City Council restored the city's original coat of arms depicting the Archangel Michael.