An archival 1970 postcard showing a panoramic view of Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv, captured from the side of Kalinin Square (now Maidan Nezalezhnosti).
What is shown on the postcard
The image shows the roadway of Khreshchatyk Street with busy public transit traffic, including ZiU-5 trolleybuses and LAZ buses, alongside Soviet-era passenger cars. On the right, the Main Post Office building with the sign “ПОШТА” (Post) on its facade is visible. On the left are residential multi-story buildings of the postwar Stalinist neoclassical style featuring decorative towers, bordered by green trees. Pedestrian underpass entrances are visible in the foreground.
Historical note
Following its destruction during World War II, Kyiv’s central street, Khreshchatyk, was entirely rebuilt in a unified architectural style of Soviet neoclassicism (Stalinist Empire style). The reconstruction project was developed by a team of architects led by Aleksandr Vlasov and Anatoly Dobrovolsky. The Main Post Office building at 22 Khreshchatyk Street was constructed between 1952 and 1958.
Present day
Today, Khreshchatyk Street retains its mid-20th-century architectural ensemble. The Main Post Office continues to serve its original purpose as the central office of Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s national postal operator. The adjacent square, renamed Maidan Nezalezhnosti in 1991, underwent major reconstruction in 2001.
Location (map)
Address: 22 Khreshchatyk St (Main Post Office), Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.450100, 30.524400
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the Main Post Office at 22 Khreshchatyk Street.
Questions and answers
- Which building is shown on the right side of the postcard? The Main Post Office of Kyiv is pictured on the right, featuring the sign ‘ПОШТА’.
- What vehicles can be seen on the street? The street traffic features Soviet ZiU-5 trolleybuses, LAZ buses, passenger cars, and light trucks.
- When was the Main Post Office building constructed? The Kyiv Main Post Office building was constructed between 1952 and 1958.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1970.
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