10 Reasons to learn Russian in Kyiv

Why Kyiv? We posed this question to our students from different countries. Based on their answers, we were able to find 10 main reasons why Kyiv is becoming more and more popular as a place to study the Russian language.

During Soviet times Kyiv was known as the third largest Russian speaking city. Even after Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, most Kyivites have remained true to tradition and continue to speak Russian in their everyday lives.

Kyiv possesses an unforgettable charm, and everyone who has been to our city at least once wants to come back to visit. It must be Kyiv’s friendliness, cheerfulness, calm pace of life, gentle climate, green parks... You’ll just have to come and see for yourself!

1. You don’t need a visa

If you’re from the EU, US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or Switzerland, you don’t need a visa to come to Ukraine if you’re going to stay less than 90 days.

No visa fees, no processing delays, no time without your passport, no hassle – simple!

Ukraine is now opening up to Europe and the west, but at the same time maintains its own strong cultural heritage and unique national character.

2. Airline tickets are cheap

The ‘no frills’ airline revolution reached Ukraine at the end of 2008 when Wizz Air started flights from London Luton to Kyiv’s Borispol airport.

With flights from only £67.99 out, and £16.99 back, a return trip can cost under £85.

Or if you are feeling particularly adventurous, why not take a Ryanair flight to Krakow in Poland, and then a train across the border, stopping off in Lviv on the way?

3. There’s a lot to see

Kyiv offers an intriguing mix of cultures that reflect its location at the crossroads of Europe and Russia. Nowhere is this more evident than in the historical monuments around the city.

If beautiful places are your thing – Kyiv is the place to come! And the best thing about these sites? They’re not overrun by tourists like in other cities such as Prague and Budapest.

There are also a number of interesting museums, including the Museum of Russian Art and the new Pinchuk Gallery, which displays modern art.

4. Kyiv is a European city

Do you think of Kyiv as a city of morbid grey tower blocks? Think again. As well as its fair share of Soviet architecture, Kyiv boasts quiet cobbled streets and a burgeoning café culture.

In winter, cafés provide a great place to warm up; in summer they sprawl out onto the streets to enjoy the fine weather. Summers here are hot, with temperatures around 30 degrees centigrade.

There are plenty of parks around the city to take a walk in – the largest is on the hill overlooking the Dnipro. One of the best things about Kyiv is the fact that its centre really is navigable on foot. Kyiv is also one of the safest and cleanest cities in Eastern Europe.

5. People are friendly

Forget about the gloomy faces that people associate with much of Eastern Europe, Ukrainians are known for their sunny temperament and warm hospitality.

Never afraid to swap a story or a kind word, Kyivans are used to a slower pace of life than their Slavic cousins in Moscow.

Step onto a zebra crossing and cars will stop; watch as the person in front of you holds the door for in the metro. How many other cities in Eastern Europe would you see that?

6. Kyiv is the cradle of Russian culture

From the end of the 9th century to the beginning of the 12th, the city of Kyiv was the centre of the East Slavic state of Kyivan Rus from which the countries of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus would emerge.

After the Mongol invasion of 1240, regional power shifted north, and by the 15th century was centred on Moscow. For centuries much of Ukraine was under the rule of the tsars or the communists in Moscow, until its independence in 1991.

Today the historical ties remain and the Russian language still dominates in Ukraine’s capital. 85% of people use it as their first language, so not only will you be learning in the classroom, but also in your everyday interaction with people around you.

7. Vibrant night life

Kyiv has a wide range of entertainment for the evenings, whatever your taste.

There are a number of good restaurants, offering a taste of local cuisine, as well as Indian, Italian and Czech, to name but a few.

After dinner, enjoy a drink in a city center bar, or head on to a concert at the opera house. If you are feeling brave go to a play in Russian at one of the numerous theatres. Whatever your taste in food or culture, there’s something for you in Kyiv.

8. Plenty to see outside Kyiv

There is always much more to a country than its capital, and Ukraine is no different.

Crimea in the south, with its sunny coastline and blue sea, is where the tsars used to enjoy their summers.

The Carpathian mountains are a beautiful site for hiking and sports. Lviv in the west is a quaint old city where the Austro-Hungarian heritage seeps from the walls of its numerous cafés.

9. Low cost of living

Although things aren’t quite what they were in the nineties, you’ll find that most things here are much cheaper than in the west, or even in Moscow or St Petersburg.

And the recent fall in the value of Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, means you’ll get even more bang for your buck.

Food, transport, drinks, accommodation – the cost of living here is much lower than in the west, so you can enjoy your time here without worrying about your wallet.

10. Ukrainian beauties

You may have heard that Ukrainian girls are extremely beautiful.

We should inform you that that is just a stereotype. But, as we all know, there’s always a little bit of truth in stereotypes!

After all, Olga Kurylenko, the latest Bond girl, is from Ukraine. What’s good enough for James Bond…