A 1970 Soviet collectible postcard featuring the ‘Moskva’ Hotel (currently ‘Ukraine’) in Kyiv, towering over the city’s central square.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground shows a pedestrian area of the square with passersby and a parked blue passenger car. The hillside slopes are covered with dense green vegetation, with a prominent red propaganda billboard featuring V. I. Lenin’s portrait on the right. The background is dominated by the light-colored, multi-story building of the Moskva Hotel.
Historical note
The Moskva Hotel was constructed between 1954 and 1961, designed by architects A. Dobrovolsky, A. Miletsky, B. Priymak, V. Sozansky, and others. The original design envisioned a Stalinist-style skyscraper topped with a spire. However, during Khrushchev’s campaign against ‘architectural excesses,’ the design was simplified, and the tower and spire were removed.
Present day
In 2001, to mark the 10th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, the hotel was renamed ‘Ukraine’. The surrounding square (now Maidan Nezalezhnosti) underwent extensive reconstruction: Soviet monuments were removed, and an underground shopping mall along with the Independence Monument were built.
Location (map)
Address: 4 Instytutska St, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.449400, 30.526900
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the hotel building on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (formerly Kalinin Square)..
Questions and answers
- When was the hotel opened? The construction of the hotel was completed in 1961.
- Who designed the hotel building? The design was developed by architects A. Dobrovolsky, A. Miletsky, B. Priymak, V. Sozansky, and others.
- What is the current name of the Moskva Hotel? In 2001, the hotel was renamed ‘Ukraine’.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1970.
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