The Morning the War Began On the fateful morning of February 24, 2022, a jarring sound pulled me from the depths of my dreams. I…
Author: Victoria Deshko
Hey there! I’m Victoria, your local guide in Kyiv. I’ve been showing travelers around Kyiv since 2016, creating private, customized tours. I love sharing stories. When not guiding, I write about Ukraine and my travel adventures on my blog.
How I Became a Kyiv Guide
I never planned to become a tour guide in Kyiv. Yet from 2016 to 2022, guiding international visitors through my city became one of the…
Why Travelers Are Returning to Ukraine
Table of Contents: How the War Changed Ukraine’s Tourism Landscape How Local Businesses Keep Ukrainian Tourism Alive Domestic Travel Leading the Way Traveling to Ukraine…
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb: How the 2025 Drone Attack Worked
Table of Contents: Operation Spiderweb was a large-scale Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) drone operation carried out on June 1, 2025, against Russian military airbases. A…
Keep These 4 Things in Mind to Travel Safely in Kyiv at Night
The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, is also the largest city in the country. As of 2025, over 2.8 million people call it home. This city continues…
Kyiv, My Forever Home: Amid the Shadows of War
How the 2022 War Changed Kyiv Forever – Walking Through Key Locations My son and I left Kyiv two weeks after the full-scale invasion began,…
7 Alternative Things to Do in Kyiv, Ukraine
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is a vibrant European instant indexing city steeped in rich history. Tourists fall in love with it every time they…
Was the Ghost of Kyiv Real? The Story Behind Ukraine’s Air Force Legend
What is the Ghost of Kyiv? In the early days of the war, in March 2022, Ukrainian social media buzzed with reports about the “Ghost…
Why So Many Russians Volunteer for the Deadly War in Ukraine?
What drives Russians into the war in Ukraine? To understand why Russians continue to enter the war in Ukraine despite heavy losses, it’s essential to…
Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest
Table of Contents: Since making its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, Ukraine has quickly become one of the competition’s biggest success stories…
Slava Ukraini – Glory to Ukraine: The History and Meaning Behind the Iconic Slogan
Table of Contents: Slava Ukraini! meaning Glory to Ukraine! is a phrase that resonates deeply across Ukraine. From the president to the schoolchild, from the…
7 Incredibly Interesting Facts about Ukraine
Interesting Facts about Ukraine Table of Contents: Fact 1. Ukraine voluntarily renounced the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world Fact 2. The Ukrainian language has…
Carol of the Bells: How a Ukrainian Folk Song Became a Christmas Classic
Table of Contents: The Origins of Carol of the Bells: Ukrainian Song Shchedryk During the past Christmas season, chances are you heard one of the…
The Motherland Monument: A Landmark in Ukraine’s History
Location Lavrska St, 27, Kyiv, Ukraine Dedication Victory over Nazism in WWII Constructed 1979-1981 Artist Vasil Borodai Architectural style Socialist Realism Table of Contents: Key…
What to See in Kyiv in One Day – Ultimate Guide
Key Takeaways Morning Start with the golden domes of St. Sophia’s Cathedral. Midday Explore the vibrant Andriyivskyy Descent and enjoy local cuisine. Afternoon Visit the…