7 cities of Ukraine with a thousand-year history

At a time when most of Europe was inhabited by nomadic tribes, cities already existed on the territory of modern Ukraine. Millennia have passed, and these ancient cities are still bustling with life. We present you a rating of the oldest cities in Ukraine that surprise you with the date of their foundation.

Kilia

The oldest city in Ukraine is Kilia, which is located in the Odesa region on the banks of the Danube River. There is no consensus on the date of the city’s foundation, but historical sources point to the period from the VII to the II century BC. In the time of Prince Sviatoslav, they even wanted to make Kiliya the capital of Kyivan Rus. However, the death of the prince in a battle with the Polovtsians did not allow these plans to come true.

Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi

Another ancient city in the Odesa region. It was founded in the fourth century BC by the ancient Greeks and was called Tira, and until 1944 it was called Akkerman. In different eras, the city was destroyed by barbarian invasions, but was rebuilt each time. A powerful defense structure, the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (Akkermanskyi) Fortress, has survived to this day. Together with Cilicia, this fortress has repeatedly stood in the way of enemies who sought to seize these lands. In addition, the city has unique underground passages that are being explored by archaeologists and attract tourists.

Kyiv

The legend of the founding of Kyiv by three brothers and their sister is quite well known. Although the official date of foundation of the capital of Ukraine is 482 AD, different historians agree on the second half of the fifth century and the first half of the sixth century AD. Today, Kyiv is the largest city in Ukraine, and it successfully combines the atmosphere of the past and the present. The Kyiv Cave Monastery and St. Sophia Cathedral were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Korosten

The first mention of the city in the “Tale of Bygone Years” dates back to 945. The historical name of this city in the Zhytomyr region is Iskorosten, which was inhabited by the Drevlyans. Unique archaeological finds reflecting the life of this East Slavic tribe have been preserved here. The city is located on the Uzh River and is known for the all-Ukrainian fair “Day of the Pancake”, which was introduced here in 2008.

Uzhhorod

According to the official version, the city in the Zakarpattia region was founded in 872. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the city was called Ungvar. Uzhhorod Castle is one of the oldest fortifications in Ukraine. Numerous historical artifacts are now stored here. One of the most popular events in Uzhhorod is the Sakura Fest festival, which takes place during the city’s amazing cherry blossom season.

Chernihiv

The city was first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years in 907. However, the results of archaeological excavations indicate that human settlement appeared here even earlier. The hero city played an important role in the times of Kyivan Rus. During the reign of Ivan Mazepa, Chernihiv became an important center of education and culture. The city is known for its numerous churches and monasteries, including the Cathedral of St. Borys and St. Hlib and the Yelets Monastery. Chernihiv is also famous for St. Anthony’s Caves, which are a unique historical and architectural landmark.

Khotyn.

This town in the Chernivtsi region was founded in 1002. Already in the times of Kievan Rus, the city turned into a center of crafts and trade. The favorable strategic location of Khotyn also ensured it an important role in the history of our country. Initially, Khotyn looked like a wooden fortress, but later a powerful fortification was built to protect it from numerous attackers. The Khotyn fortress has survived to this day and is one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. More than 50 films have been shot on the territory of the Khotyn Fortress Reserve.