The city prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. After the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Where do you want to go? Russian Courses - Internship Cities Ukraine - 15 Years IAESTE Ukraine View from Sophia Cathedral A painter at the Lavra 17 ~ IAESTE Ukraine 2008 from 1921 onwards Kiev was an important city of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and, from 1934, its capital. The city boomed again during the years of the Soviet industrialization as its population grew rapidly and many industrial giants were created, some of which exist until today.

In World War II, the city again suffered significant damage, but quickly recovered in the post-war years, becoming once again the third most important city of the Soviet Union. The catastrophic accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant occurred only 100 km north of the city. However, the northward winds blew the most substantial radioactive debris away from the city. In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was proclaimed in the city by the Ukrainian parliament on August 24, 1991. Kiev is the capital of independent Ukraine.