Icons of Ukraine

30/08/2022

The grizzly voice and youthful face of the world's toughest nation.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has earned his place in history as a brave and articulate wartime leader - overseeing the humiliation and destruction of the Russian army which tried to invade his amazingly resilient and talented homeland.

Discover more Ukrainian awesomeness at: https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/president-zelenskyy

02/12/2020

Celebrate Ukraine this Christmas with the 'Icons of Ukraine' Advent Calendar!

Icons of Ukraine has created an advent calendar for you! Happy holidays! :)

19/10/2020

Kachalka is an open-air gym which is made from scrap metal, vehicle parts, chains, and tyres.

Surprisingly, this is one of the most popular places among local athletes of all generations.

In 2013, Buzzfeed published a photo gallery of Kachalka. Titled as "Your Gym Is Punk-Ass Compared To This One" the article became viral drawing attention of many foreign tourists ever since.

Located in Hydropark on the banks of the river Dnipro, Kachalka covers a massive 10,000 square meters and provides Kyivians with all the heavy metal they need to get buff.

Kyiv’s Kachalka was created by Polish gymnast Kasmir Jagelsky and maths professor Yuri K*k. The gym opened in the 1970s, it’s totally free and it never closes.

Check out Kachalka and other icons on our website: https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/kachalka/

05/10/2020

Ukrainain Soviet art mosaics are one of the most intriguing visual hallmarks of the Ukrainian public realm.

They are full of different meanings and it is difficult to really understand which of these mosaics is communist propaganda and which is the cultural heritage of the time, which reflected the life and experiences of mosaic artists.

Colourful and diverse in subject, style and purpose, they still adorn some huge wall spaces inside and outside public spaces and buildings all over the country.

New ‘decommunisation’ rules ban Soviet symbols from public spaces and as a result some mosaics have been covered, removed or defaced. However, many Ukrainians still admire the mosaics as part of the nation‘s cultural heritage and work to save and restore them.

Сheck out Mosaics and more icons on the Icons of Ukraine website: https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/mosaiacs/

21/09/2020

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a sprawling Monastery housed in a network of caves on the banks of the Dnipro River.

One of the largest Christian shrine centers in the country, a landmark of history and architecture, it belongs to the state, and religious organizations use it on lease.

Its stunning location, glistening golden domes, and mummified monks make the Lavra an essential stop for tourists and you’ll see pictures of the Lavra on almost every Ukrainian guidebook.

07/09/2020

In a country like Ukraine with its notorious bureaucracy and love of paperwork - Notaries are absolutely everywhere.

Notaries have a lot of legal power, so this profession is very popular still.

If you need to perform any ‘official’ procedure in Ukraine you’ll almost certainly find yourself sitting in an uninviting hallway waiting for the notary to provide their all-important stamp and signature.

Also, Ukraine loves Notaries so much that they celebrate 'Notary Day' on September 2!

28/08/2020

The Antonov An-225 Mriya is the largest aircraft in the world and a great example of Ukrainian aerospace technology.

The gigantic 6-engine plane is a ‘strategic heavy-lifting transport aircraft’ which is in constant demand by countries around the world when they need to airlift something massive.

An-225 "Mriya" set 240 world records, which is a completely unprecedented case in aviation!

There is currently only one Mriya in existence but the construction of another, second Mriya started around the same time as the first one but never finished.

Compare Mriya with other largest planes in the world! And don't forget to shop this icon as an accessory at Icons of Ukraine store: https://iconsofukraine.threadless.com/designs/antonov-an-225-mriya/kids/baby-bodysuit?color=white

27/08/2020

What do you know about Tsar Balcony? Check out this and more Icons of Ukraine on our website👇

Balconies are a subject of national obsession. Apartment owners dream of them, building companies find endless creative ways to build them, and everyone else mocks them. The phrase 'Tsar balcony' (Ukrainian: Цар Балкон) is used sarcastically to poke fun at the faux extravagance of these pal...

26/08/2020

Salo is a Ukrainian pork delicacy. Basically a pig fat, it used to play central part in Ukrainian cuisine, but now, due to the fashion for healthy eating, it has receded into the background and is more of a fancy snack.

If you want to get drunk and not get sick or have a terrible hangover the next day, eat a few slices of this blubber before drinking and you'll be fine.

It is most often paired with borshch, varenyky, bread and horilka as a snack.

If you like the taste of Salo but don't like touching or slicing it, there is a lazier way of consuming it. Many Ukrainian supermarkets sell “shpyk,” which is Salo in a spreadable form. It’s already seasoned: just spread it over a piece of bread and tuck in!

Shop salo as an accessory at Icons of Ukraine store: https://iconsofukraine.threadless.com/designs/salo/accessories/beach-towel

25/08/2020

Like BMW Bags Icon?
You can now shop Icons of Ukraine as souvenirs and gifts👇

Like so many things in Kyiv, nobody can explain the origin of these bags. But, in many ways, they are the perfect metaphor for Kyiv - a city where wealth and poverty collide, where real and fake blend together, and where capitalist symbols have imposed themselves on almost every aspect of life in th...

24/08/2020

Happy Independence Day to all Ukrainians and everyone who celebrates Ukraine today!

Today, we want to talk about Maidan Nezalezhnosti! It means "Independence Square" and is arguably the most iconic of all the icons in Ukraine.

The main square of the country, which has undergone various reconstructions, restorations, several wars and sabotages. It has become a symbol of the will of the people in their iron desire and struggle for a better future!

A special decoration of the Maidan are the singing fountains, which delight residents and guests of the city with world hits, and the Independence Monument, which is strongly associated with the Maidan around the world.

The word "Maidan" is a Turkish word meaning "square" or "open space" adopted by Ukrainians from the Ottoman Empire. During the protests, the word "Maidan" also acquired the meaning of revolution.

21/08/2020

Like Titushki Icon?
You can now shop Icons of Ukraine as souvenirs and gifts👇

The name “titushki” comes from Vadym Titushko, a Ukrainian man from the city of Bila Tserkva. He became notorious after beating up two journalists during a 2013 clash between pro-European demonstrators and fugitive Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s supporters. Titushko eventually admitte...