Kyiv stays home to defeat Covid-19

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UNO Kyiv

The United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) promotes global awareness and understanding of the work of the United Nations through its network of field offices around the world. The UN Office in Kiev engages with local audiences in the Ukraine.

Photo story by Volodymyr Shuvayev

Over one week, Shuvayev rode on a bicycle almost 100 kilometres across Kyiv streets to capture city life during the quarantine.

Kyiv, the capitol of Ukraine, normally teems with people and cars. Following a stay at home order, the city of five million is now still. The street life and traffic have vanished. A small number of residents don face masks before venturing out to buy groceries, walk dogs and exercise.

The Peoples' Friendship Arch is a popular lookout point above Kyiv, providing views of the historical centre, Dnieper and Podil districts of Kyiv. Along with parks and other public gathering places, it has been closed since 6 April.

The amphitheatre near the Peoples' Friendship Arch is usually popular with groups of youths playing guitar and reading books.

Independence Square in downtown Kyiv is devoid of the street sellers, skateboarders, tourists and business people that usually energize it.

Kontraktova Square, the heart of the historical centre, is deserted. In warmer months, pedestrians clog the narrow streets around it. After 16 March, when the quarantine was established in the country, most people stay near the place where they live.

During the warmer months, the pedestrian bridge connecting Kyiv's Right Bank and Trukhaniv Island attracts teens, young families and cyclists. Its main visitors now are police enforcing the quarantine.

Customers must wear a mask and submit to a temperature check before shopping for groceries. Shopping without a mask risks a fine of 17,000 to 34,000 hryvnyas (US $600 to $1,200).

A woman walks her dog past the empty Ocean Plaza, which used to be most popular shopping mall in Ukraine. Walking dogs is permitted under quarantine.

Bike riding with face masks gains popularity as a form of exercise after fitness centres were closed.

Marta, 11, participates in an online German language lesson during the quarantine. After schools were closed, broadcast television and YouTube replaced classroom instruction. United Nations photo: UN Ukraine/Olga Aliyeva

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