Drones Over Kiev

The most prominent landmark in the Ukrainian capital Kiev is the Rodina Mat, a giant steel monument overlooking the Dneiper River.  The statue the USSR's victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 against Nazi Germany.  While recent laws have required many Soviet era monuments to be destroyed, WW II monuments are exempted.  Here is Tempostudio's drone video of the immense statue, now is seen as recognition of Ukraine's immense contribution to victory.

The Ukrainian capital Kiev is closely tied to the Dneiper River on which it sits.   Kiev sits roughly midway down the 2.2k km (1.36k mi.) river, Europe's fourth longest .  The Dneiper rises near Smolensk in western Russia and empties into the Black Sea to the south.  Along the way, it provides enough hydropower to generate about 10% of the Ukraine's electricity needs.  In this video, you'll get a nice bird's eye view of the mighty river in winter, compliments of contributor Anthony Esteban Gonsales.

The Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge is a massive span which crosses the Dneiper River in Kiev, Ukraine.  It is the capital city's northernmost (upriver) crossing point, spanning a difficult and wide stretch of it compared to the crossing points of the downriver bridges.  Opened in 1976, the 816 meter (about 2.7k ft.) cable-stayed suspension bridge  was a major Soviet era infrastructure investment.  Contributor CamFly  flew a drone over the span at sunset to create this amazing bird's eye view.  

The Motherland Monument (Rodina Mat) is an immense statue in Kiev, Ukraine.  Part of the Museum of the History of the Ukraine in World War II, the statue is a memorial to the many millions of Ukrainians who died during the Great Patriotic War (as World War II is known in the former Soviet Union).  In this video, contributor Alp Karagulle used a drone to create a stunning aerial perspective of this monument, which is still standing after most Soviet-era statues have been removed.  

One of the important distinctions between Ukrainian and Russian cultures is religion; whereas Russia is primarily Eastern Orthodox, Ukraine is predominantly Catholic.  Not surprisingly, the cathedrals which dot the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev are some of its most prominent landmarks.  In this video, contributor Alp Karagulle uses a drone to give us an aerial tour of the Cathedrals of Kiev, including the magnificent Saint Sophia's Cathedral. It's considered one of the great churches of Eastern Europe.

Contributor Alp Karagule created this awesome aerial video of the main square of Kiev, Ukraine.  It's now called Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) for the role it's played in promoting and securing Ukrainian independence from Russia since the time of the dissolution of the USSR in the early 1990's.  Independence is one of three main squares in this city, which is the third largest in Eastern Europe after Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia.

Contributor Sphereview created this beautiful drone video of one of the most important landmarks in Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine.  The Golden Gate was built in the 11th century as part of the fortification system to protect the city, which was perenially vulnerable to invasion from the west.  The gate fell into ruins during the Middle Ages.  In 1982, during the period of rule by the USSR, the gate was reconstructed.  The reconstruction was highly controversial, given the lack of information about the original design.    

Kiev Pechersk Lavra is one of the most well known Christian Orthodoz monasteries.  It's situated in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.  Founded in the 11th century as a cave monastery, it's considered the most important Eastern Orthodox monastic structure in Eastern Europe.  The site consists of several different buildings, which are jointly managed by a museum commission and the Eastern Orthodox Church.  Kiev Pechersk Lavra is one of the top tourist attractions in Kiev.  

St. Andrews Church is one of the most important in Kiev, a city known in part for its churches and monasteries.  It was constructed atop a prominent hill in the middle of the 18th century.  The church commemorates St. Andrew, who is alleged to have visited the site of the city on the Dneiper River in the first century AD.  It continued to hold services even during the worst period of Stalinist religious repression in the 1930's.  Today the church is considered one of the top 2-3 tourist spots in the city.